Every year, roughly 400 people in the United States die as a direct result of texting and driving. 400 deaths that could have been prevented by someone simply putting their phone away. In today’s world, texting and driving is a dangerous nationwide problem that needs to be addressed and solved. To fully understand texting and driving, it is essential to know why it exists, who it affects, the legal ramifications, and the strategies to address it. 

When reflecting on why people continue to text and drive despite the national push and anti-texting laws, the reasons that came to mind were simple: fear of missing out, habit, and overestimating one's multitasking ability. Growing up in a generation that is constantly communicating on a cellular device, I have seen firsthand how quickly someone feels the need to check their phone out of fear of missing something. Most drivers feel the need to immediately check their phone not only out of fear that they are missing something, but also because people are addicted. Studies show that the noise of notifications over time has rewired the brain to feel the need to check their phone immediately. Often, people think this is okay because they are good multitaskers; however, most people overestimate their abilities. The combination of these reasons is why people can’t take a drive without checking a text despite the nationwide initiative to stop it. 

Texting and driving doesn’t just affect the driver; it affects everyone on the road, from other drivers to pedestrians and bikers. When someone texts while driving, they take their attention off the road for an average of 5 seconds to read and send a quick text. This, combined with the standard speed limit of 55 miles per hour, is essentially the same as driving the length of a football field without paying attention to the road. This is just as dangerous as drinking and driving, according to The Law Offices of Robert MaLove. Therefore, hazardous drivers are not only placing themselves but als the other people around them on the road at risk. Although some may argue that it isn’t a risk if pedestrians and drivers pay attention to the road, they can avoid people driving recklessly while texting. This isn’t true; taking attention to the road leads to so much unpredictability that even the safest driver and pedestrian can’t avoid tragedy.

One of the common questions after text-and-drive incidents is how to properly enforce these laws and punish people accordingly. Often, minor crashes and texting-and-driving violations are punished with civil charges such as fines, license points, and increased insurance premiums. However, when texting and driving, crashes occur, and the driver is at risk of facing criminal charges. Criminal charges differ from civil charges: civil charges are purely monetary, while criminal charges can result in more serious consequences under the law, including jail time. The most common charge for texting and driving is reckless driving, which leads to heavy fines, driver improvement courses, license suspension, and, possibly, jail time depending on the severity. 

With the issues surrounding texting and driving today, increased initiatives are needed. One idea that would be successful in decreasing texting-and-driving incidents, especially among teenage drivers, is for schools to hold an assembly on the dangers of distracted driving and to follow up each month with a different texting-and-driving assignment. Since teenage drivers are in school seven days a week, it is an easy way to reach a large number of drivers. By following up monthly with different activities on the dangers of texting and driving, the information is constantly being relayed to students, hopefully decreasing the number of texting-and-driving incidents amongst teens. In addition, harsher consequences from the school system, such as driver improvement classes during in-school detention and revoking parking privileges for students caught texting and driving, may also help address the issue. 

In conclusion, the dangers of texting and driving are serious and have a tremendous effect on many people. The solution is simple: the more people we can get off their phones while driving, the more lives saved. When people reflect on their cell phone use while driving, the one thing they should do is be honest with themselves and take action to fix the issue. As issues arise, it's essential that, as a nation, we reflect, figure out the why, make a plan, and enforce it. The journey to eliminate texting and driving will be long, complex, and may seem impossible. But the journey is essential and necessary for America's future.