Uncategorized 23 Nov 2009 11:12 am
Texting While Driving: A Dangerous Distraction
As technology advances, people are increasing their ability and preference to be in a state of constant contact with others. However, when this expansion of communication reaches a point of pervasiveness that interferes and distracts from an individual’s primary tasks the results can be disastrous.
With the growth in cell phone usage, more and more people are prone to utilize their phones while they drive. This is not limited to teenagers or younger adults; people from all ages are increasing the use of their phones and other electronic devices in various capacities while driving. This includes such things as dialing a phone number, checking email on a mobile device, changing the music on a digital music player, and sending text messages.
Driving is primarily a visually dependent activity, thus any action that removes the driver’s eyes from the road is potentially dangerous. Beyond merely seeing the road, driving requires the diver to be mindful and aware of what is going on around them. Texting and similar actions take both the drivers eyes and mind away from the road.
Various studies, both in real and simulated scenarios, have established the hazards of this distracted driving. According to research conducted at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, when a car driving at 55 mph texting takes the driver’s concentration off the road for the equivalent of traveling the length of a football field. Furthermore, a study conducted by the Transport Research Laboratory at Wokingham, Berkshire England found that texting while driving is as impairing as drunk driving. Yet, regardless of all the tests all the evidence, even first hand experiences in close crash situations a large number of people continue to text while driving.
The legal regulation of texting and driving is gaining support on multiple levels all across the United States. Nationally, President Obama signed an order that forbade all federal employees from texting while operating a federally owned vehicle. Additionally AAA is lobbying for a bill that would force all states to adopt no texting while driving laws and enact them by 2013. On the smaller scale a little under half of all the states so far have passed laws that outlaw texting while driving.
This is a great step towards reducing the problem, but it is difficult to actually enforce the laws. Simply spotting the behavior, beyond being a poor/distracted driver, is difficult let alone actually proving that whatever the driver was texting. It only takes a couple clicks to erase all text messages on a phone. Theoretically this is can occur in less time then it would take for a police officer to pull a person over and walk from their patrol car to the other vehicle. Thus without subpoenaing cell phone records confirming that the person was indeed texting and driving would be extremely difficult. Even then, a person could delete the text and not send it, thus making the subpoena irrelevant. The punishment for texting while driving varies throughout the states that have banned it, but the standard seems to be a moderate fine, which increases per offense.
Where legal regulation falls short, technology is stepping up to help. Although the advances in technology and increased level of communication lead to the danger these distracting dangers, several steps are being taken to correct the problem. One example of this is the development of Microsoft and Ford’s Sync technology. Sync allows a person to connect their phone wirelessly to the car using Bluetooth technology. When a text is received, Sync provides a number of prewritten responses that can be keyed in and sent using the appropriate number on the dashboard. Sync also includes voice command technology that allows a person to vocally control various calling features of their phone. Specific music artists and tracks can also be vocally selected from a digital music device when one is connected to the vehicle. Although there is currently not adequate technology to allow for talk to text/text to talk interaction reports claim that Ford and Microsoft are currently working on further development. All of these applications allow for a more seamless, less distracting, driving and communicating experience.
Not waiting for legal regulation and technology to take their full affect there are groups attempting to raise awareness about the dangers of texting and driving. Many of these stem from established groups that are aimed at aiding and informing teenagers and their parents. The most shocking effort of the anti-texting and driving movement is a public service announcement made by a British police department, with the intent to be shown to teenagers. The extremely graphic video shows a teenage girl whose texting and driving has devastating results. Click here to view the video: Texting and driving PSA. While the video is indeed disturbing, the intention is to illustrate just how dangerous texting and driving can be.
In the end, the main goal of all of these efforts is to encourage drivers to keep their eyes and minds focused on the road. The law, technology and community groups are all moving forward to eliminate texting and driving, hopeful that society will soon follow suit.
Mike Witkowski
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