Distractions While Driving

By Brett, David, & Greg

 Problem
• People who multi-task at the wheel, drive
hazarded, and put other conductors and
themselves in danger.
 Evidence
• People who multi-task aren’t 100% focused and lose
control or crash much easier
• 39% of 18-30 year olds and 15% of 31-44 year-olds text
while driving
• in April 2006 the national highway safety administration
and the viriginia tech transportation institute found that
nearly 80% of accidents could have been averted if drivers
paid more attention to the road. The study equipped 100
cars with cameras and sensors, which logged nearly 2
million miles, participating drivers had 82 real accidents
and 761 near crashes.
 Evidence (continued)
• in November 2006 a survey conducted by nationwide
insurance of 1200 respondents ages 18-60 73% reveal
that they used a cell phone while driving while 68%
admitted to eating while driving and others said they
shave, read and even paint their toe nails in traffic.
• its currently believed to be about 230 billion dollars of
damage from distracted driving; this only of the
reported distracted driving cases
• driver distractions contribute to 25% of all reported
accidents 
 Evidence (Continued)
• According to a recent NPR Health story,
multitasking while driving (ie, talking on a cell
phone) is as dangerous as drunk driving.
• driver inattention is involved in about 80
percent of crashes, according to a 2006 study
by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration.
 Arguments: FOR
• multi-tasking puts other drivers at risk
• acting irresponsible
• saves lives
 Arguments: AGAINST
• experienced drivers that have multi-tasked
before and haven’t gotten an accident can do
it again
• when people are running late they have to
resort to multi-tasking
 Alternatives
• Jail time 3-5 days (advantage- encourages
them to not multi-task, disadvantage-
extremely harsh)
• community service (advantage- make them
work and learn their lesson)
• 1st offense- fine; 2nd offense- license revoked
 Controversies
• people will disagree with the law
• would have to find a way to enforce it
• hard to get people to enforce and stop it