Kathleen Santos 2/4/1460S English PD.3Are the consequences of distracted driving severe enough? Every day you see a driver distracted by phones, electronic devices, passengers, etc. Distracted driving can lead to horrific injuries and fatal deaths. One of the biggest distractions while driving is texting. You see some drivers on the road with a phone in their hand. And I think the penalties for texting while driving should be more severe because texting while driving increases the risk of a crash or near-crash more than any other distraction (Kaplan 1). Texting while driving is a widespread harm. “Driving distractions have become a national problem, especially as the use of cell phones has increased (Jackson 1).” The National Safety Council estimates that nearly 28% of all car accidents, or approximately 1.6 million each year, can be linked to talking on a cell phone or texting while driving (Jackson 1). And according to a Pew Internet & American Life Project Study (Jackson 1), about 26 percent of U.S. teens ages 16 and 17 have texted while driving. While texting while driving is a common harm, it is also one of the most common worst distractions. Justin McNaull, director of state relations for AAA, formerly known as the American Automobile Association, says, "Texting is the most dangerous activity for motorists because it involves taking your eyes and attention away from the roadway." “Even taking your eyes off the road for two seconds doubles your chances of getting into an accident (Jackson 1).” And drivers who texted were 23.2 times more likely to crash than those who didn't text (Jackson 2). For example, when my uncle takes us to a place, he touches his phone but uses it for GPS. You think they are you...... middle of paper ......so teenagers said they have been in a risky situation like this (Madden 3). Younger teens ages 12 to 13 reported that the driver was using the cell phone in a dangerous way, 34%, and teens ages 14 to 17 report the same but 42% (Madden 3 ). A high school age boy shared that he would text "only at a stop sign or a stop light, but if it's a call they have to wait or I'll pass it on to my brother or whoever is next to me (Madden 3) ." Ultimately, texting and driving is one of the most dangerous distractions for a driver behind the wheel. I still think that the penalties for texting while driving should be more severe because texting while driving increases the risk of a crash or near-crash more than any other distraction. If you are in the car and the driver is using cell phone, I think you should tell him to give you the phone or turn off the cell phone.