The Dangers of our Actions

The
Dangers of our Actions

With
an average of over six million people involved in car accidents per
year, the importance of drivers ed continues to grow as the
death toll surges. In the United States, almost twenty percent of car
accidents account for drivers who were unlicensed. In light of the
problem, phone companies, such as Apple and Samsung, should be
required to develop safer technology for communities by implementing
a software requirement that prohibits phone usage during car motion,
except for essential activities like navigation, called “Smart
Driving.”

Discontinuing
the ability of individuals to use their phones during driving will
help eliminate the driving source that causes millions of deaths and
injuries each year. Drivers should not be making phone calls,
searching the web, or text messaging while they drive. Instagram,
Facebook, and Snapchat are among the most popular applications that
individuals find themselves using today. If phone companies are able
to disallow users to surf the web or make unnecessary use of their
cell phones during car motion, then the rate of distracted drivers
and car accidents will diminish. However, navigation and being able
to dial 9-1-1 will be some of the exceptions available during car
motion. The device will switch to a restricted mode that only allows
the usage of essential features.

Although
many would argue that passengers wouldn’t be able to message or
call their family members, more drivers will take frequent breaks
during long drives. In fact, the Highway Code recommends taking a
fifteen-minute break every two hours an individual drives. Enforcing
this software requirement for cellular devices serves to reduce the
number of tired, exhausted drivers. Not only that, but the number of
deaths caused by car accidents will decrease. More individuals will
feel safer driving and less at risk for ending up in a fatal car
crash.

From
personal experience, my friends tend to drive for long periods of
time and never take a break unless there is a need to pump gas. At
times, my friends become bored while driving and text their other
friends. Without coming off as rude or annoying, it can be difficult
to stop friends from being distracted drivers.

Implementing
a law that requires phone companies to promote the software usage of
“Smart Driving” will require initiative from the people. Sharing
ideas to elected officials in hopes of convincing them to write a
bill will be the first step in processing this software requirement.
The bill will be processed by a committee, where members of the
Senate or House will debate whether the bill will be passed on for
presidential action. If approved, the bill will become law and
require phone companies to integrate “Smart Driving” as part of
their software system.