Detroit was the first of many cities to implement road signs, car lanes, and traffic signals soon followed by traffic police to issue tickets to unsafe drivers (Loomis). Drivers Education and licenses were not yet mandatory. It was common for boys between the ages of ten to fifteen to have delivery jobs that required them to drive delivery trucks (Loomis). In another case, a young woman was arrested her twenty sixth time for reckless driving after plowing into a crowd of people on the sidewalk. She claimed the reason for these incidents was the blackouts she suffered from (Loomis).
Over the next many years, many inventions have come along to make driver either more enjoyable or easier for the driver. Windshield wipers were one of the first inventions to make driver easier in the late 1920’s soon followed by safety glass in any Ford products (Hopkins). However, in the 1940’s, radios were introduced to automobile consoles (Lending) as well as crash test dummies for safety purposes (Hopkins). Radios and music still pose a potential hazard to drivers of all, and especially young ages (Lending). The crash test dummy greatly improved car quality leading up into the 1950’s. It put greater emphasis on safety, making many car companies see the danger behind vehicles. And only two years after this were airbags installed to deploy on impact (Hopkins). This, along with anti-lock breaks and three point seat belts was very crucial leading up into the 1960’s due to better engines and racing teenagers (Hopkins). More advanced technology is not introduced to cars until the 1990’s when brake assistance and blind spot warnings are installed on expensive cars (Hopkins). Seeing that distracted driving could not as easily be controlled, these measures were necessary to help prevent more accidents as population grew and the number of cars on the road increased as well as speed limits.
Many distractions these days stem from modern technology, texting being the number one reason for accidents caused by distractions (Distracted driving). This is because texting requires all three forms of distraction (CDC). Looking down to read or type a text requires visual concentration, while moving your fingers and using one hand requires manual concentration, and finally processing the communication and thinking of a response requires your cognitive concentration (CDC). Most distractions only require one or two of the three types, but texting uses all three which is why it is considered the more dangerous (CDC). According to a study by the CDC 31% of drivers in the United States admitted to reading or sending text messages while driving and 69% admitted to talking on phones while driving. These numbers are an average of half in European countries (CDC).
Texting is not the only distractions on our roads though. Other distractions include eating or drinking, talking to passengers, and even reading (Distracted driving). It was reported that nearly one in five crashes involving injuries were caused by a distracted driver. It was also reported that ten percent of crashes involving teenage drivers were due to distractions (Distracted driving). Studies have even shown a jump in the number of people visibly doing something that distracts them, as well as a trend showing that young drivers are 63% more likely to be distracted than older drivers (FCC).
Many measures have been taken to lessen these numbers, however, it continues to be a problem nationally and globally. Government laws do little to lessen the effects with only partially banning of cell phones while driving such as in school zones or for any official worker to use them (DMV). But as far as the public goes, cell phones are only illegal for novice drivers and bus drivers. Although when driving, it is common to see signs to discourage texting and even commercials on the television to warn drivers of these dangers.
One example of injury and death due to distracted driving is the case of three Houston teenagers killed coming home during spring break. According to the article, the nineteen year old girl driving checked her phones GPS on the highway and veered into on coming traffic where they collided head on white and 18-wheeler. All three girls were killed on impact (Loomis).
Distractions while driving hurt out society in many ways causing death and injury to anyone involved. Not only can someone hurt themselves, but their carelessness can lead to other people getting hurt (DMV). In many ways, distracted driving can be compared to drinking and driving (DMV). This also promotes irresponsibility behind the wheel, which can lead to being irresponsible in other areas of life. Even in the event the accident is minor, car issuance agencies may not cover the damages and may add additional charges to your bill seeing as it is considered a liability (DMV). In some instances, licenses may even be revoked (DMV).
Millions of families over the years have been hurt by the effects of distracted driving. Lives of young children or innocent bystanders have been ruined by the injuries they sustained. These occurrences are greatly improved from one hundred years ago, but in those hundred years, an issue like this should be remedied and not still causing problems. Distracted driving as a whole seems to increase despite these efforts. The cause could be due to technology, irresponsibility, or poor law enforcement, but whatever the issue may be, each of these has a simple fix. The counter to technology has been addressed with more technology such as speed monitoring and automatic brake assist. But the issue of irresponsibility in teens and poor law enforcement are necessary to significantly decrease the amount of distractions we face when driving.
Social Epidemic Part 2
The further I have been looking into the epidemic of distracted driving, primarily with teenage and young adult drivers, I have noticed that the numbers and statistics are staggering. And the measures to prevent distracted driving go much further than I knew of before. According to a study by the CDC 31% of drivers in the United States admitted to reading or sending text messages while driving and 69% admitted to talking on phones while driving (CDC). However, over 25% of all accidents reporting serious injuries were caused by texting and driving. This number is nearly 50% of all reported accidents such as minor fender benders. Although, it is in some ways ridiculous that so many attempts have been made to prevent it, yet it is still such a prevalent issue we face. So many consequences have been put in place, yet so many people still die from it daily.
What makes distracted driving worse than any sickness is that it is a choice people make. Everyone who drives is thoroughly educated on the dangers of texting or eating or simply looking away from the road, yet nearly every person has at some point been a part of it. It is a sad reality that we face today, especially seeing how so many people think it is not a serious problem. This option seems even more absurd than most, not because it puts you in harms way, but because it puts so many others in danger. Not only is there a risk to injury or death, but a risk of killing other innocent people.
No matter the consequences or the preventative measures we take, this epidemic continues to grow. Unlike so many other social issues, distracted driving does not have a clear “cure”. It is very unlikely that it could ever be eradicated from society due to the amount of variation. Even if people do find a way to prevent cell phone use at the wheel, people can still be distracted by a number of things like eating, talking, or reading a sign. And sadly this epidemic can only be eradicated by people's collective choice to make the right decision behind the wheel.
One solution that has been rather recent is new technology in cars that allow them to sense when a car is drifting out of its lane or senses when you need to use the brakes. These new developments have saved many lives and money for people by preventing wrecks, but may prove to cause issues in the future. People may become dependent on this technology and text and become even more distracted and simply rely on sensors and brakes to keep them safe rather than paying attention.
As of now, fifteen states, most of which are on the west coast and in a section of the east coast, ban all use of cell phones while driving. According to the National Conference of State Legislature, the majority of these states have show a slight decrease in hospitalization caused by distracted driving at the wheel. Many studies have been conducted by other news media sites questioning the reliability of other national reports on how effective these laws really are.
Overall, the best way to prevent people from being distracted while driving is to inform them of how serious the issue is. People have to make this decision for themselves because not every road can be a school zone and not every state currently has these laws. For this reason it is very important to voice your opinion to others and tell them how potentially dangerous it is for themselves and others.
Distracted driving may not relate to The Plague much due to the fact that one is a decision and the other is not, but it plagues our lives similarly. Both sicknesses and car accidents claim lives daily. In The Plague, many laws were set in place to avoid spreading the disease further much like we have laws for texting and driving today. And much like every law, there is always someone who attempts or succeeds in breaking these laws.
I think one way these two epidemics could be similar is that in The Plague many people see the irony of their own lives and those who are stuck in quarantine begin to realize how much they took the other people in their lives for granted. In other words, they never realized what they had until they were kept away from them. Much like today, many people may not see the danger of distracting themselves while driving until they end up hurting or killing someone. The people of Oran had the same routines nearly every day and never appreciated the people that loved them in their lives. Similar to driving, people make the same decision to text or call or eat while driving until the day something goes wrong; until the day the plague hits them. They no longer take these things for granted, they will realize that they never should have participated and been distracted in the first place.
Another similar aspect these two thing have in common is perhaps the ending. At the end of The Plague, the sickness is overall eradicated. Although it is made clear that it is possible for the disease to lie dormant and reappear some years later, much like distracted driving. Laws can be made to prevent it, as many already have been, and perhaps they will be successful, but in time there will always be some new way for people to break the law. Because of this, the distracted driving epidemic can always reoccur with cell phones or any other method used to distract people on the road.
Comparing this issue to Camus beliefs, it could be possible that he would see this on a much deeper level. Adding the variable that distracted driving is more of a choice, and efforts made to deter people from texting and driving may all be in vain if they cannot see the bigger picture. Looking at the human angle, Camus may see this epidemic as even worse than the one described in his book.
As it has been expressed many times in this paper, distracted driving causes many issues in today's society. It is a very prevalent issue that effects everyone on the road. And while not every instance of texting or talking or eating while driving will cause a fatality, the risk itself should be enough to encourage people not to. Another reason it should be avoided is because it can be a bad example to anyone who rides in your car. With so many reasons given not to engage in any form of distracted driving it will continue to be a very serious issue that people will not take seriously.
Although this epidemic is no drug or illness, it still manages to claim so many lives. Even with so many laws in place, data is not conclusive on whether these laws actually help or improve the number of people hurt by this. Despite these laws, people are likely to continue to die from this until proper action can be taken that people cannot get around. Until these laws and made to prevent distracted driving, the only true way to prevent it is to not engage in it yourself and encourage others to be a good example and not risk the lives of others on the road.
Citations
CDC. (2016, March 7). Distracted driving. Retrieved March 6, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/distracted_driving/
Distracted driving: Facts and statistics. Retrieved March 6, 2017, from https://www.distraction.gov/stats-research-laws/facts-and-statistics.html
DMV, 2017. (1999). Three types of driving distractions. Retrieved March 6, 2017, from http://www.dmv.org/distracted-driving/three-types-of-distractions.php
Hopkins, K. (2014, April 13). The evolution and history of automobile safety -. Retrieved March 6, 2017, from Prevention, http://distracteddriveraccidents.com/the-evolution-and-history-of-automobile-safety/
Inc, C. I. (2015, October 20). Minn. Teen charged in fatal texting while driving crash. Retrieved March 6, 2017, from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/texting-and-driving-minnesota-teen-kills-father-and-daughter/
Lendino, J. (2012, February 10). The history of the car stereo. Retrieved March 6, 2017, from http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2399878,00.asp
Loomis, B. (2015, April 26). 1900-1930: The years of driving dangerously. . Retrieved from http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan-history/2015/04/26/auto-traffic-history-d etroit/26312107/
Posted, & Rothman, J. (2011, October 15). Inside ideas: The history of distracted driving. Retrieved March 6, 2017, from http://archive.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/brainiac/2011/10/inside_ideas_th.html
FCC, The dangers of distracted driving. (2016, October 25). Retrieved March 6, 2017, from https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/dangers-texting-while-driving
2016. Distracted driving. IIHS, 1996. Web. 17 Apr. 2017.
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