Disagree

by Patrick Sills

Created on: July 09, 2011

Driving while texting is certainly a stupid thing to do, but comparing this activity to drunk driving is simply going too far. In 2009, the latest year in which statistics are available, 33,808 people died in automobile accidents in the United States. Of those, 10,839, or some 32%, involved somebody driving under the influence of alcohol's intoxicating affects. Conversely, it is estimated that between 2002 and 2007, 16,141 people died as a result of texting while behind the wheel. This comes to an average of about 2306 people per year, or nearly 80% less fatalities from the latter as opposed to the former.

Drunk driving has been a problem ever since the automobile came into our lives. It is a well-known fact that when alcohol enters the bloodstream, one's sense of judgment begins to become compromised. As more is ingested, this can result in impaired vision and a considerably slower reaction time to unforeseen circumstances. Alcohol can render feelings of euphoria that can be compared to getting "high" on illicit drugs, and it can also cause drowsiness. Operating a motor vehicle or any other type of machinery following a few drinks is extremely dangerous, and this is precisely why those who are now stopped and found to be intoxicated will spend time in jail, have their driving privileges revoked, and be subject to a hefty fine. When lawmakers finally realized just how many lives were being lost due to drunk drivers, the old days of a slap on the wrist and a $25 ticket were over.

Now let's look at text-messaging. There's no question that this pastime has become very popular. In order to text, of course, you have to have a cell phone. Most of us have one now, too. To put this into perspective, only a third of the population had cell phones back in 1999. By 2008, 91% did. But let's look at which group does the most text-messaging: teenagers. Some adults text as well, but for those who have reached middle age and didn't even know what a cell phone was until Bill Clinton was President, most don't bother with texting. If they have access to a phone, many will simply call whomever they wish instead of spending extra time typing out messages to others. After all, that's what E-mail is for, right?

To summarize, it's the young crowd that has overwhelmingly embraced texting, and the fact of the matter is that many of them aren't even old enough to get a driver's license in the first place. Sure, they eventually reach that 16th birthday and get their license. And yes, some will be foolish enough to attempt texting while driving. However, texting while driving is clearly not the same as slamming down a few beers or a couple of cocktails before getting into the driver's seat. Texting could rather be compared to trying to read a map or a book while driving. It falls into the category of doing something like trying to apply makeup or pick that stubborn piece of broccoli wedged in between your teeth while trying to drive. It's like taking your eyes off the road to find that favorite radio station or that Maroon 5 CD. Are these activities distracting? Absolutely. Taking your attention off the road and surrounding traffic for even a couple of seconds is a very risky undertaking.

But we must be realistic here. Everyone is guilty at one time or another of taking his or her eyes off the road for a fleeting moment. To be fair, and in defense of those who claim that texting while driving is as bad as driving while drunk, this practice is more distracting than some of the others listed above. Obviously, it takes more time to compose a text message than to check out that hot-looking woman in a short skirt on the sidewalk, and thus the eyes will be off the road for a longer period of time.

In this respect, perhaps there should be laws implemented to prohibit texting while driving, but based on the fact all of us take our eyes off the road at times, clumping texting behind the wheel into the same category as driving while intoxicated or high on drugs would be ludicrous. The key is education. Driving classes in high school should simply stress the dangers and foolishness of engaging in such an activity.  

http://www.edgarsnyd er.com/drunk-driving /statistics.html

http://articles.lati mes.com/2010/sep/24/ news/la-heb-distract ed-driving-20100924

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