Reccomendations

As there is no one solution to this troubling topic of Teens Texting and Driving, but it is going to be a compilation of multiple ideas and possible solutions.

If you are interested in pursuing change as a driver, sign a petition and stick to it.

• http://www.distraction.gov/take-action/take-the-pledge.html

•  https://www.itcanwait.com/

If you are a parent, check out this app to help take away the urge to drive and use a cell phone:

• https://www.cellcontrol.com/

If you are interested in reading more about texting and driving and the effects of bans and laws, check these out:

• https://www.amazon.com/Distracted-Driving-Multi-Tasking-Myth-Judge-ebook/dp/B00J3513FO
• https://www.amazon.com/Distracted-Driving-Issue-Stefan-Kiesbye/dp/0737755660
• http://www.nsc.org/distracteddrivingdocuments/cognitive-distraction-white-paper.pdf 

Check out Michigan's Law about GD 1 and 2 Drivers:

• http://www.michiganautolaw.com/kelseys-law-scholarship/
• http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1627_60169_60174-297890--,00.html

Continue to acquire knowledge. This is a cause that can only be effective with your help.

Teen Texting and Driving Solution

Much like with other problems, teens using their phones while driving does not have one simple solution. The answer to our problem is a compilation of different smaller techniques to achieve the desired outcome.

For example, Kelsey's Law is a way to prevent Graduated License 1 and 2 driver's from using their cellphones while driving in Michigan. This law could further be spread to other states within the United States. As data shows, that the states with texting bans or laws, the car accidents related to cellphone use have decreased (Michigan.gov).

In driver's training, students are taught the dangers of not wearing a seat belt and going the speed limit, but times have changed. The curriculum for Driver's Training should now include the dangers and sometimes fatal consequences of using a cell phone and driving. Students, as a way to create a healthy habit could be shown these "tricks":

• Keep your phone on silent
• Put the phone in the backseat, out of your reach
• As drastic as keeping your phone in the trunk of your car
• Putting a lock on your phone that helps you to remember not to text  
  
  
  Parents can even pay for an app that disables the cellphone while the teen is in the car. For parents, a way to help keep your child alive and off their phone is paying a small fee, that small fee is priceless. 
   
  There is no one answer to this problem. But together, we can help further prevent our teens from dying due to cell phone use.
   

Attention getters

Every day in the United States of America, there are eight lives lost and 1,161 injuries as a result of distracted driving (CDC Distracted Driving 1). Distracted driving is classified as eating, texting, talking on the phone or even doing your makeup while driving. Anything that you do while you are driving, other than driving, is causing you to be distracted.

Do you think a quick text message or one glance down to change the song, is worth the life of a two year old? If you drive and simultaneously do another activity at the same time, this is what you are saying. Oh, but it won't happen to me... but a crash is more than likely to happen on account of distracted driving. "31% of U.S drivers ages 18-64 reported that they read or sent text messages or email messages while driving at least once within the last 30 days before they were surveyed" (CDC Distracted Driving 4).

Kelsey Raffaele was a 17 year old from Sault Ste Marie, Michigan. She was a high school senior on her way to a Business Professionals of America competition and a pompom girl with her twin sister. But she was involved in a car accident that claimed her life when she lost control of her car.  Kelsey's Law was then founded by her parents to raise awareness of the dangers of teens texting and driving. How many deaths of our teenagers across The United States of America is it going to take before we realize the gravity of texting and driving?

Kelsey's Law

Laws are often a result of a tragic situation, whether a death in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, a shooting, or the loss of a teenager as a result of texting and driving. Kelsey's Law, a Law signed by Governor Rick Snyder in 2013, restricts Graduated License 1 and 2 holders from using a cellphone while driving.
Kelsey's Law was drafted after the death of Kelsey Raffaele of Sault Ste. Marie, 17, who died in an automobile accident in 2010 due to the use of a cell phone. Her parents drafted the law to help prevent other parents from sufferring the same loss they are currently feeling.
If you live in Michigan and you drive down US-10, you may see the billboard that is advertising, and raising awareness of Kelsey's Law.
There is a scholarship that is given to high school juniors and seniors and it is hoping to "inspire them to change." This scholarship brings awareness to the dangers and possible long term consequences of texting and driving. 

Multitasking State of Mind

The National Safety Council put out an article in April of 2012 stating different dangers of texting while driving. One claim to justify driving while distracted is the driver's ability to "multitask." But as the NSC states, our brains cannot do more than one thing at a time. Rather, we switch rapidly from one topic to another, making it appear as if we can multitask.
When a driver is talking on the phone or texting or eating etc, while driving, it causes our focus' to change. Driving without simultaneously doing another task, a driver's view and eyes are focused on a bigger spectrum. They are looking at sidewalks, the other lanes of traffic and up ahead of them. When driver's drive while distracted, the focus shifts to directly in front of their car. This heightens the chance of not seeing impending danger, or the ball of a small child roll into the road, or even an emergency vehicle.
Driving while distracted is a great danger to all people. Most citizens know the danger, and some know the costs and consequences. Whether that means an "almost accident" or the total of a car or worst of all, death of a loved one. But what can we do to stop distracted driving? Everyone knows its a danger but most are not willing to wait. What is it going to take for driver's to realize the gravity and sometimes harsh consequences to their actions? What is it going to take to change? #ItCanWait

Introduction and Overview

I am exploring the effects of texting and using your cellphone while driving. Do bans restricting usage of cell phones and texting laws increase or decrease accidents caused by distracted driving? Does one influence more accidents? Are they negatively correlated?

I have discovered that they are so many variables in this area of research. Texting and handheld bans together cause more people to move to non-visible texting as a way to go unseen by Police officers. Which could then, in turn, be a more dangerous action and cause more accidents. Whereas, texting bans alone decrease texting activity but increase handheld usage. Location, age and type of driver may also play a part in accidents caused by drivers using their cell phone while driving.

Stay tuned as I continue my research and update my blog. Here are more topics within distracted driving that I will be looking into:
Does taking a pledge hold people to be accountable? Does online activism raise enough awareness? Is it the cell phones fault or all the distracting vices and different areas we are being pulled in and our multitasking wired brains causing us to be in more car accidents.