Lit/Comp 10, 3rd hour

30 November 2015
Distracted Driving
Thousands of innocent people die each year because of others who choose to text and
drive. This is unfortunate because it could be easily prevented if a law was passed that forced
people to put their phones down while driving. The use of electronics while driving should be
illegal in every state because there would be fewer deaths, the roads would be safer, and new
drivers would avoid developing bad habits.
Other people might say that it is an invasion of privacy for the police to enforce the
use of technology while driving. People oppose a statewide ban on texting while driving
because it impinges on personal privacy (Benning Tom). It seems as if this example would
prove that a law should not be passed but that is wrong because it is a minor invasion of privacy
that is almost meaningless. Also, this proves that a law should be passed outlawing distracted
driving because although it slightly impinges on peoples privacy, the benefits of saving
thousands of lives each year outweigh this slight inconvenience.
Others might say that their privacy would be invaded if the police enforced the use
of technology while driving. Borne (a houston area police officer) acknowledged that it is
difficult to know for sure. Sitting at a busy intersection, though, he pointed to the stakes. Not
long ago at that spot, he saw a woman run a red light while looking at her phone. Engrossed in a
text message, she never saw the light change (Benning Tom). This example verifies that
peoples privacy is not invaded because Borne the police officer could easily tell that the woman
was distracted by just looking through the driver window. Also, the law would prevent the lady
from running the red light which could have ended in an accident so it would be much safer if a

law was passed outlawing texting and driving. Like many other drivers, this lady was lucky but
others can end up in deadly crashes so if a law was passed, there would be fewer deaths.
If all states banned the use of electronics while driving, there would be a
considerable decline in the number of deaths on the road. In 2013, nearly 3,154 people were
killed in accidents because a driver was distracted by technology, according to the U.S.
Department of Transportation (Shepherd, Kate). This example confirms that there would be a
decline in the number of deaths if a law was passed banning texting while driving because the
number of distracted drivers on the road would decrease leading to fewer crashes and traffic
build-ups. Also, this proves that a law should be passed because that way, there would be fewer
deaths on the road.
There would be a considerable decline in the number of deaths if governments
passed laws outlawing distracted driving. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety announced
that their studies found that distracted driving was a factor in nearly 6 of 10 moderate to severe
crashes involving teen drivers (Proquest Staff). This data proves that there would be a decline in
the number of deaths if a law was passed banning texting while driving because the number of
teens on their phone would decrease leading to more focused drivers and fewer deadly accidents.
Also, this proves that a law should be passed because new drivers would be able to stay more
focused and avoid accidents.
If all states banned the use of electronics while driving, roadways would be safer
with fewer crashes and therefore there would be fewer traffic jams. It can take 27 seconds
for a driver using a voice-activated entertainment system to regain full alertness after making a
command from behind the wheel. That means a car going 25 mph can travel the length of three
football fields before a driver's brain fully recovers (Siddiqui Faiz). These facts prove that if a

law was passed banning the use of technology on the roads, people would be safer because they
would be able to stay fully aware on the task of driving instead of being distracted by a device.
Also this shows that a law should be passed banning the use of technology while driving because
being distracted for that long can result serious accidents.
There would be fewer vehicle accidents if a law was passed banning the use of
technology on the road. The lasting effects of mental distraction pose a hidden and pervasive
danger that would likely come as a surprise to most drivers," he said. "The results indicate that
motorists could miss stop signs, pedestrians and other vehicles while the mind is readjusting to
the task of driving (Siddiqui Faiz). This example validates that if a law was passed banning the
use of technology while driving, the roads would be safer because people would be more aware
when approaching an intersection and they would be able to avoid pedestrians and other cars as
needed. Also, this proves that a law should be passed banning the use of technology while
driving because more drivers would be focused while driving resulting deaths from crashes.
New drivers would avoid bad habits like texting and driving if a law was passed
banning the activity. These are frightening statistics: 87 percent of teenagers text when
driving. The average time they take their eyes off the road (to text) is 5 seconds (ProQuest
Staff). These statistics prove that if a law was made to ban the use of electronics while driving,
new drivers would develop fewer bad habits because many would be discouraged by the legal
consequences resulting in a new generation of safer drivers. Also, this proves that a law should
be passed banning the use of technology while driving because with almost all teenagers texting
and driving with little focus, the roads are very dangerous which can result in many deadly
crashes.

If all states banned the use of electronics while driving, new drivers would develop
fewer bad habits. According to the Governors Highway Safety Administration, at least 12
states ban the use of hand-held cellphones while driving, 41 ban text messaging, and 37 ban all
cell phone use for beginner or teen drivers (ProQuest Staff). This example proves that if a law
was made to ban the use of electronics while driving, new drivers would develop fewer bad
habits because not enough states have put laws in banning the use of electronics on the road
which would help new drivers develop good habits instead of bad ones. Also, this confirms that
a law should be passed banning the use of technology while driving because laws banning
technology are not already in place so people may not realize the consequences and do it anyway.
If the laws were passed, the roads would be safer, teens would be safer drivers, and there would
be fewer deaths.
Using electronics while driving should be outlawed because there would be fewer deaths,
the roads would be safer, and new drivers would avoid developing bad habits. Also, we would
see fewer heartbreaking stories of high-schoolers dying in tragic texting while driving accidents.
The point is that it is not fair that innocent people are dying and others seem to take this huge
responsibility of driving very lightly. Would others find it fair if a close friend or family member
of theirs died in a car crash caused by an irresponsible driver?

Ben, this was a really solid paper! There are just a couple places where you should
change the wording so its not as repetitive. You should also review the formatting for the thesis,
claims, and parenthetical citations. Also, make sure not all of your evidences are quotes, change
it up!

Works Cited
Benning, Tom. "Does Banning Cellphone Use While Driving Reduce Accidents?." Dallas
Morning News. 22 Jul. 2015: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher.Web. 05 Nov. 2015.

ProQuest Staff. "At Issue: Distracted Driving." ProQuest LLC. 2015: n.pag. SIRS Issues
Researcher. Web. 04 Nov. 2015.

ProQuest Staff. "Distracted Driving Timeline." Leading Issues Timelines. 2015: n.p. SIRS Issues
Researcher. Web. 05 Nov. 2015.

Shepherd, Katie. "More Use Phones While Driving." Los Angeles Times. 16 Jul. 2015: B.2. SIRS
Issues Researcher. Web. 05 Nov. 2015.

Siddiqui, Faiz. "Study Details How Hands-Free Tools Distract Drivers." Washington Post. 22
Oct. 2015: A.7. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 05 Nov. 2015.