TOPIC: Cell Phones Should be banned while Driving.

  1. GENERAL PURPOSE: To convince the audience that a national ban on cell phones while on driving is very necessary.
  2. SPECIFIC PURPOSE: To gather attention on the requirement of political will to put into practice more regulatory statutes.
  3. CENTRAL IDEA: Using cell phones behind the wheels is equally harmful for the lives of drivers and for the lives of general public.
  1. INTRODUCTION
  1. KEY POINT #1: Texting and chatting over cell phones is a main cause of death in road accidents
  2. KEY POINT #2: Using cell phones while driving is as risky as driving drunk
  3. KEY POINT #3: Existing state laws are not adequate to realise a change
  1. BODY OF PRESENTATION

A. KEY POINT #1:Texting and chatting over cell phones is a main cause of death in road accidents.

  1. The drivers get distracted and lose attention if they use cell phones behind the wheels.

Source :( NTSB Recommends Banning Texting, Cell Phones While Driving, 2011)

  1. The connection between cell phone use and the possibility of accidents is well documented through researches.

Source: (Live Science Staff, 2009).

B. KEY POINT #2: Using cell phones while driving is as risky as driving drunk.

1.In most of the U.S States, drunk driving is legally prohibited

Source

B. MAIN POINT #3 Imperative that government enacts laws to ban the use of cell phones while driving.

  1. Enacting and passing of law to ban cell phone usage while driving will save lives.
  1. CONCLUSION

Cell phone is not the only cause for distraction while driving but it has contributed to the increase in vehicular accident.

  1. Central idea: Using cell phones behind the wheels is equally harmful for the lives of drivers and for the lives of general public.
  1. Introduction
  1. Key Point # 1: Texting and chatting over cell phones is a main cause of death in road accidents
  2. Key Point # 2: Using cell phones while driving is as risky as driving drunk
  3. Key Point # 3: Existing state laws are not adequate to realize a change

II.Body of the Presentation

  1. Key Point # 1: Texting and chatting over cell phones is a main cause of death in road accidents
  1. The drivers get distracted and lose attention if they use cell phones behind the wheels.

Source: (NTSB Recommends Banning Texting, Cell Phones While Driving, 2011).

  1. The connection between cell phone use and the possibility of accidents is well documented through researches.

Source: (Live Science Staff, 2009).

  1. Key Point # 2: Using cell phones while driving is as risky as driving drunk
  1. In most of the U.S states, drunk driving is legally prohibited

Source: (Live Science Staff, 2009).

  1. Studies have shown that using cell phones behind wheels is more dangerous than drunk driving. Source: (Live Science Staff, 2009).
  1. Key Point # 3: Statues regarding cell phone driving in US states and future probabilities
  1. An overview of current statutes in US states on cell phone use.

Source: (Ciciora, 2010).

  1. A recommendation for future possibilities of statutes

Source: (Ciciora, 2010).

III. Conclusion

Using cell phones for texting or chatting while on driving is a potential threat for lives. This threat can be easily avoided by banning the use of cell phones behind the wheels.

Cell Phones should be Banned While Driving

Cell phones are no more considered as a luxury. Today, they are an essential component of our lives. Cell phones help us to stay in touch with our friends and families and also to pass on important messages on emergencies. So do you use cell phones when you are driving a car? I am sure most of us really do. Still we are aware of the potential threats associated with using the cell phones behind the wheels. We don’t hesitate to send text messages and make or receive calls even when we are driving in a rush. Have you ever thought why do we do so? The reason is simple, we think everything is in control and nobody is going to stop us. Would you dare to use cell phones in the driving seat, if you are sure that you will be penalized for your action? If we had stricter laws, most of us would stop using cell phones behind wheels. Studies have proved that texting and chatting with cell phones is one of the chief reasons of death in road accidents. As we can understand, using cell phones distracts the attention of the driver. I believe if stricter statutes are imposed, most people would stop to use cell phones when they are driving. Today, I will tell you why is it essential to have a nationwide ban on cell phones while driving.

Many researchers have concluded in their relevant studies that chatting over cell phone while driving is particularly unsafe for drivers and others. Statistics shows us that texting and chatting over cell phones is one of the major causes of road accident deaths in the United States. Drivers using cell phones while driving are at four times greater risk for a crash than the non-users. As per the study conducted by the Harvard Center of Risk Analysis, cell phone use while driving is the major factor in six percent of crashes. That means 636,000 crashes, 330,000 injuries, 12,000 serious injuries, 2,600 deaths and a loss of $43 billion every year is connected to cell phone- driving. (Live Science Staff, 2009). Is it possible for us to ignore this statistics that reminds us about our negligence? We all know that driving is essentially a task that asks for attention and presence of mind. The driver’s attention is easily distracted when he uses his cell phone to communicate with others. The ABC news website mentions about a recent survey conducted to study the cell phone habits of young drivers. The study found that young drivers below the age of 25 are 2-3times more likely to read or send messages and email, than older age groups. Two out of ten drivers have admitted that they do texting on their cell phones while they drive. (NTSB Recommends Banning Texting, Cell Phones While Driving, 2011). Some of us believe that hands-free devices can reduce the risks of cell phones to a great extent. Do you know, there is no scientific evidence to establish this is true? In fact, a study conducted by the University of Utah, proved that this consumption is wrong. Hands-free devices can ease only our hands but not our feelings. Imagine when someone is making a call on an emergency; the caller may not be in a state of mind to enquire where you are and what is going on around you. It will definitely affect the emotions of the listener if the news is bad or upsetting. Obviously, the driver may not be able to act accordingly as expected from a driver. Now what if you are hearing upsetting news when you are driving on a busy road! There are more chances for a crash when the driver is on a busy road. (Live Science Staff, 2009). My point is that the driver may not pick the phone if the rules are stricter. In that case, he will ignore the phone calls as he is aware of the penalties. He will wait until he parks his vehicle safely and then attend the call. This is the safest scenario for both the driver himself and for others on the road.

We all know that drunk driving is an offensive and unsafe practice. It has a nationwide ban in the United States. You will be surprised to know studies have proved that using cell phone is as much risky as drunk driving. The sad part is that the policy makers are not giving sufficient importance to the threat of cell phones on driving. The study conducted by Professor Frank Drews and his team of the University of Utah, found that using cell phones is more dangerous than drunk driving. Their study realized that people are careless and diverted when they use cell phones behind the wheels. This case is almost similar in driving drunk at the legal blood-alcohol limit. In this particular study, the volunteers met with a few crashes when used their cell phones for chatting behind wheels. Interesting fact is that none of them crashed while they continued the experiment when they were drunk. (Live Science Staff, 2009). I believe this study is substantial enough to open our eyes. I hope our policy makers will design and implement more statutes to eliminate the threats of cell phone usage to ensue road safety.

Most of us know that the laws and regulations on using cell phones while driving are different in various states of the United States. Some states have implemented specific statutes against the use of cell phones, considering the relation between number of accidents and cell phone usage. There is a strict ban on handheld mobile phones in some states like New Jersey, New York, California, Connecticut, Utah, Washington and the District of Columbia. The restrictions are only proposed for definite groups of individuals in some other states. In most cases, these statutes target minors or those who are fresh license holders. Cell phones are restricted for young drivers in seventeen US states and in D.C. (Live Science Staff, 2009). A recent study conducted by Sheldon H. Jacobson of Illinois established that lower fatal accident rates are experienced in 46 counties in New York. These lower rates were accredited to a ban on hand-held cell phone usage. All 62 counties under the jurisdiction experienced lower personal injury accident rates also. (Ciciora, 2010). I request you to look into this statistics to realize the importance of a ban on cell phones. Do you think our statutes can prevent the negligent drivers chatting and texting with their cell phones? Isn’t it a time for our politicians and policy makers to address this issue seriously?

The 2009 White House summit discussed legal action to ban texting while driving. As a result, President Obama signed legislation to ban federal employees from texting behind the wheel. (NTSB Recommends Banning Texting, Cell Phones While Driving, 2011). From this what we can figure out is that even a White house summit could not result in a nationwide ban. As per the CBS News poll survey, 94% of Americans believed texting while driving should be banned. Interestingly, 47 % of all adults in a Pew poll admitted that they had sent or read a text message at least once, while they were driving. (NTSB Recommends Banning Texting, Cell Phones While Driving, 2011). When we argue for nationwide ban on cell phone, this survey result should be quoted because it tells a very important truth about our cell phone use. Don’t you think, a legal ban will make the majority of Americans to not use their cell phones while driving? It is high time for our politicians to take initiatives for more discussions on this topic. I do hope, we all can stand together to get our policy makers be more attentive to this issue.

Let me remind all of you that distraction of the driver’s attention is the cause of almost eighty percent of automobile accidents in the U.S. Innocent lives are in the threat of accidents when we are on road. Every year, thousands of people are falling as victims for road accidents. It can be any one among us or any one so near and dear to us. I can’t find any good reason to not implement a nationwide ban on cell phones while driving. Let me tell you once again that we all have the moral responsibility to safe guard our life and the lives of others.

References

Ciciora, P (2010). Study: Cell-Phone bans while driving have more impact in dense, urban areas. Retrieved on June 26, 2015 from Phones .html

Live Science Staff, (2009) Should Cell Phones Be Banned While Driving? Retrieved on June 26, 2015 from -banned-driving.html

NTSB Recommends Banning Texting, Cell Phones While Driving. (2011). Retrieved on June 26, 2015 from