Just the other day, I was thinking about the movie Seven Pounds starring Will Smith. It is about a man that killed his wife and a few others in a car crash because he was looking at his phone. There is more to the movie, but the point is: Calling and texting while driving is ILLEGAL. The state passed the law in 2008 because there has been many accidents caused by phone technology. People know it is wrong, but they risk the lives of others just to stay connected AT ALL TIMES. I don't understand why people don't care that they could be risking the lives of others around them. Whether it's because of a business deal, you're talking to a family member, or you are telling a friend you will be there in 10 minutes.. it is not right. This shows that people have become addicted to staying connected. Years ago, you had to wait until you got home or got to a pay phone to talk to someone; but now, no one can wait just 15 minutes to talk. What does this say about the way we have changed? New technology has made us impatient and unaware of the things around us. We have become distracted by it.
http://www.chp.ca.gov/pdf/media/cell_phone_faq.pdf
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It has shortened our attention span substantially. It's infuriating when adults do it as well. And they're not even ashamed of being told by their kids not to text and drive! I'm a teenager, I'm the one that's "supposed" to be like that, but instead it's the adults. How ironic.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brittany,
ReplyDeleteIt infurates me to see a teenager or an adult texting or talking on the phone while driving. It is dangerous because you take your eyes of the road and it can probubly wait. Having a permit myself I can drive and I no how hard it is to stay focused on the road without the distraction of bieng on the phone and driving.
There are some exceptions though for example if someone you know was admitted to the hospital etc.
I agree with raul in saying in this (as postman describes it) television era our attenion span is significantly decreased
I agree with all of you except for Raul G. Us, as teenagers, are not "supposed" to text and drive. Both adults and teenagers break the law. That is my understanding of what you wrote. Unfortunately, people text and drive knowing in their minds right from wrong. Sadly, sometimes we have to go through something horrible to learn from our mistakes. Of course, in an emergency you can pull out your cell phone and use it. Why don't we just use a Bluetooth? After all, it is legal. Brittany, thanks for posting that link.
ReplyDeleteLaws to people are just "guidelines". They never take them seriously which is why accidents are still happening with this problem of calling or texting while driving. Almost everytime when I am in the car to go somewhere I see some idiot on the phone driving like a maniac. Once or twice my mom has honked at the person because they almost hit us. Brittany, people will never learn that laws are for their own good until something tragic happens to them or their loved ones.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Yandy when she opposes Raul's comment. We teenagers are expected to be the ones texting the hell out of our phones, but that doesn't mean we are obligated to. But Raul, you do have a point, adults text 24/7. My mother is always "connected" and it gets to the point where I don't even think she listens to anyone unless they are on the other side of her phone and the point where I can't have a real conversation with her. I mean, really? You can't wait 5 minutes to start texting, you really have to start texting in the middle of our conversation?? The same goes with my friends--it's annoying. Have some manners, please. But I agree Brittany, and the movie you used as an example is perfect. Throughout the whole movie Will Smith's character felt so guilty that he just couldn't live with himself.
ReplyDeleteBrittany, I agree with everything you said. Why do people text and drive? It is a huge distraction. One point that no one mentioned, surprisingly, is that not only are other drivers at risk, but the person texting is too! Maybe that is why people text and drive. They might think that if they cause the accident, they are safe from injuries. It is a good thing that they instilled that new law prohibiting texting while driving. In my opinion, the police should enforce the law even greater. There are more hazards to driving than just texting, however. Driving while drunk or fatigued are also huge risks. One time, for instance, a woman was driving down Del Amo Boulevard when she fell asleep at the wheel! Guess what happened. She inadvertently drove her car against the curb, causing her car to fly in the air, simultaneously completing a cork-screw spin into our neighbors' fence! It was the most frightening thing I've ever witnessed! Luckily only the lady who fell at the sleep was wounded. And yes, the Will Smith example works perfectly. He lived with so much guilt, he couldn't take it anymore! The sad part is that this happens all the time.
ReplyDeleteLet me clarify what I meant. Obviously we are not obligated to text, but it's just what people expect form teenagers, that's all. If we do it, people say, "They're teenagers, that's why." But when an adult does it, there's no real excuse, as they're supposed to be more mature. Also, please don't call me Raul G. I know that's what my screen name says, but Raul is fine. You don't have to say my whole name.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree with you more Brittany. Although technology does make our lives more convenient, we have also become more reliant upon it and impatient. Like Ammon said, people think of the laws given to us as "guidelines". I remember watching the news and hearing the announcement of the law that stated talking or texting while driving was illegal. A few days after, another story appeared on the news that Maria Shriver herself was caught using her phone while driving. How can we, the residents of California, take this law seriously if those who oppose the law do not even set the example?
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