Hang up the phone and drive

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Chernenko

Hang Up the Phone and Drive

     Imagine driving along and talking to your best friend on your cell phone about the awesome Pistons Game that was just on television.  “Wow, did you see that sweet dunk by Ben Wallace?”  Then BAM, you hit a car after running a stop light.  You didn’t even see it coming because you were so distracted by the phone conversation.  This is a perfect example of why the nation needs to outlaw cell phone usage while driving.  In some states across America, a law has recently been made to ban cell phone usage while driving, but what about the other states? The probability of drivers talking on a cell phone and getting into an accident is only getting higher each and everyday.  Each state government must put a law into effect to ban cell phone usage while driving.  Cell phone usage while driving must be outlawed in each state of the United States because it causes great danger not only to drivers and the passengers in that driver’s car, but possibly also to the many other bystanders and cars that are on the path to that driver’s destination.  

     Now, many supporters of cell phone usage while driving maybe thinking, “The government cannot outlaw cell phone usage while driving.  It is our freedom and they cannot take that away from us.”  But yes, the government can take that privilege away from us.  Driving while talking on a cell phone can be as distracting and dangerous as drunk driving.  The government has already banned drunk driving and cell phone usage while driving is next.  One may also argue that such things as the radio and other passengers can be as distracting as a cell phone, but cell phone usage can wait.  Other passengers riding in one’s car is impossible as is radios, which have been around a lot longer than cell phones.  Next, supporters may also say that using cell phones while driving is important because they are used to report emergencies such as a car accident, assault, robbery, etc.  However, one could pull over to the side of the road to report an emergency rather than while driving.  It only takes a couple minutes to pull over and dial 911 and can potentially divert other accidents from happening.

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     When individuals choose to talk on their cell phones while driving, they have a tendency to hold up other drivers and not pay attention to traffic laws, thus making other drivers frustrated.  Too many times we have found ourselves behind a driver that just so happens to be talking on his/her cell phone and driving ten to fifteen miles per hour below the speed limit.  Getting behind cell phone users leads other drivers to become angry and frustrated with the individual who chooses to engage in a phone conversation while sitting behind the wheel.  A driver cannot devote ...

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