Why Do People Text and Drive? – Research Paper – Alejandro Rodriguez
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Why Do People Text and Drive?
The distraction of texting while driving can be lethal to the driver and everyone in the streets, may it be other drivers, passengers, pedestrians, or even physical objects. According to the AT&T Compulsion Survey, 98% of drivers think that texting while driving is dangerous. (AT&T, 2014) However, 43% of these drivers have admitted to reading a text while driving. (AT&T, 2014). Research shows that “people drive more unreliably when they’re texting than when they’re drinking and driving {and} we know that people are six times more likely to be in an accident if they’re texting and driving.” (Crothers, 2014) Even though people are aware of the dangers that texting and driving pose, we are still willing to do it regardless. Studies show that 75% of teen drivers assure that texting and driving is common amongst their peers, and nearly 4 in 10 teenagers use social media while driving. (AT&T, 2014) There are numerous reasons why people text while driving.  According to AT&T the main reason why drivers text while on the road is to stay connected with friends and family, and 30% think of being connected to their phone is a habit and remain using it in the car as well. Addiction to texting is one of the main reasons why people are willing to text while driving. According to David Greenfield, a medical professor at the University of Connecticut, “The lure of text messages is actually a lot like the appeal of slot machines, both can de difficult compulsions to overcome for some people. The buzz of an incoming text message causes the release of dopamine in the brain, which generates excitement.”(Worland, 2014). According to Dr. Greenfield, “Addiction is what drives the behavior.  There is a psychological mechanism where [people] deny the fact that this one instance will not be dangerous.,” (Crothers, 2014) Dr. Larry Rosen call this the iDisorder, where elements of different mental illnesses combine and are centered on the way we all relate to technology and media. (Turkle, 2011). Moreover, an overdependence on our technological devices and internet connections have caused a direct effect in our psychological and emotional well-being.A sense of anxiety is another reason why people cannot disengage texting and mobile device usage while driving. According to Sherry Turkle, “People, especially teens, feel a sense of urgency when it comes to cellphone usage.” (Turkle, 2011) For example, as soon as the phone receives a notification, he/she immediate reaction would be an “emergency”. This kind of emergency may come in different forms, such as a family member trying to get ahold of him/her and they feel that the response can’t wait, or hence feeling compelled to answer their phone, regardless what they are doing. In a way, the phone may serve as a connection with the outer world, thus, making teens feel safe by having their phones always nearby.

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“Why Do People Text and Drive?” EssaysForStudent.com. 09 2015. 2015. 09 2015 < "Why Do People Text and Drive?." EssaysForStudent.com. EssaysForStudent.com, 09 2015. Web. 09 2015. < "Why Do People Text and Drive?." EssaysForStudent.com. 09, 2015. Accessed 09, 2015. Essay Preview By: Alejandro Rodriguez Submitted: September 21, 2015 Essay Length: 556 Words / 3 Pages Paper type: Research Paper Views: 539 Report this essay Tweet Related Essays Why Do People Lie? Why Do People Lie? What is a lie? A lie is an untruth, a deviation, big or small, from what is known to be real. 1,030 Words  |  5 Pages How Is Honour the Driving Force with the Texts the Godfather and Romeo & Juliet? How is honour the driving force with the texts The Godfather and Romeo & Juliet? The Godfather and Romeo & Juliet are complex texts which 1,101 Words  |  5 Pages Viruses, Trojan Horses and Worms Can Be the Cause of Damage to a Computer System – Are People Who Generate Them Breaking the Law? Use Examples or Case Studies from the Press or Text Books to Explain Your Answer Introduction: First of all we would like to know what exactly are virus, Trojan horse and worms. Viruses, worms, and Trojans are malicious programs which 1,046 Words  |  5 Pages Persuasive Speech: Don't Text and Drive Title: Why you should not text and drive Specific purpose: To persuade drivers and future drivers to not text while driving Central Idea: To highlight 754 Words  |  4 Pages Similar Topics Bob Marley Pesuasion People Music Disadvantages Texting Get Access to 89,000+ Essays and Term Papers Join 209,000+ Other Students High Quality Essays and Documents Sign up © 2008–2020 EssaysForStudent.comFree Essays, Book Reports, Term Papers and Research Papers Essays Sign up Sign in Contact us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Service Facebook Twitter

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Do People Text And At&T Compulsion Survey. (July 9, 2021). Retrieved from https://www.freeessays.education/do-people-text-and-att-compulsion-survey-essay/