Fernando's Blog |
Owning a smartphone is a blessing for all of us. Our smartphones are like mini computers that we rely on if we are browsing the internet and downloading software. Most importantly, smartphones are like any other phone, we can call or text. Unfortunately, we are addicted to our smartphones that we cannot leave our home without them and are a constant distraction in our daily life. We witness people that are constantly distracted from starring at their phones while walking on the sidewalk, roads, and stairs. The most important issue is when people are texting while driving. Texting while driving is the act of composing, sending, reading text messages, email, or making similar use of the web on a mobile phone while operating a motor vehicle. Every day, I am always behind the wheel and I always see other drivers distracted on their phones while driving especially when the driver is at a stoplight. Texting and driving has been a major cause of car accidents and running over pedestrians. As I read in an article from Edgar Snyder and Associates, there were some shocking statistics from people that text and drive. Each year, approximately 1.6 million crashes occur due to cell phone use. Nearly 330,000 injuries occur each year are caused by texting and driving. One out of every four car accidents in the United States is caused by texting and driving. If a driver is texting on the road, in about 5 seconds the driver is not paying attention other than their phone. The National Safety Council reports that texting while driving causes a 400 percent increase in time spent with eyes off the road. I was astonished by the statistics that I found interesting and I did not know about. Those are only a few statistics for texting and driving, but there are many more statistics that we might be aware, but not properly presented. Texting and driving conflicts with the ethical issues of Utilitarianism, and Deontology. Driving distracted goes against Utilitarianism because texting and driving does not maximize the greatest good, considering it can kill innocent people. Deontology goes out the window because texting and driving has been declared illegal in nearly every state, while most states now even make it illegal to be on a phone at all. One might argue in opposition that texting and driving is a part of virtue ethics, because many other people text and drive. There is another ethical issue for punishing people that text and drive, which is considered as invasion of privacy. Now we hear about undercover officers disguised as construction workers going to stop lights and stop signs to find drivers using their phones. Undercover officers use cameras to take pictures of driver’s license plates and use it to look up the drivers place of residence in order to send the ticket to the driver’s home address. Drivers that had been in that situation argue that they feel their privacy is being violated from the cameras that can easily give their private information. Undercover officers pulling stings to stop distracted drivers is a good approach in my opinion because it can reduce possible car accidents.
Link for more information for statistics of the dangers of texting and driving http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/08/dangers-of-texting-and-driving-statistics_n_7537710.html
20 Comments
Mariel Calande
5/13/2017 03:27:57 pm
I agree that cops going undercover to stop people from texting and driving is a good approach. I think there are many people who will do illegal things on the road when there's no cop in sight, but will be on their best behavior when one is nearby. By doing this, cops remind people that they shouldn't be putting lives in danger even when they don't see a cop. People don't realize how dangerous texting and driving is. While it sucks to get a ticket or a fine, I think it would suck more to get in an accident or cause one because of being on your phone.
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Laura Chavez
5/16/2017 07:50:26 pm
It's so true that when people see a cop around they tend to be very careful with their driving. I have seen it happen many times.
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Darren Chan
5/13/2017 07:50:45 pm
I am so glad I don't text and drive. Sometimes I can't stand those who are looking down at their crotch all the time. With the police going undercover, I think that is a great approach at stopping those who are doing things that shouldn't be done. And people would be more aware of what is going on and what they should be doing.
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Salvador Ramirez
5/13/2017 09:38:40 pm
Hello Fernando,
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Jose Cortez
5/19/2017 11:08:37 pm
Yes, I was quite astonished by these statistics as well. However, the more I think about it the more it makes sense, texting while driving is extremely dangerous.
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Tommy Ha
5/14/2017 07:24:58 pm
Hi Fernando,
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Cristina Cachux
5/15/2017 09:59:43 pm
Great post. I cannot believe how many accidents there are due to texting and driving. I really hope that the police going undercover can help bring some justice to the issue at hand. I think people do not realize how horrible it is what they are doing because they themselves have not been in an injury involving texting and driving. I hope people can see how serious it is.
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Adrienne Horca
5/16/2017 01:38:58 pm
Fernando,
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Laura Chavez
5/16/2017 07:54:53 pm
When people are in public, I think they give up their right to privacy to some extent. I also think that just because other people are texting and driving, it doesn't mean that you should also do it. It's illegal for a reason, and people still do it even with all the dangers being so obvious.
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Eliasar Gandara
5/16/2017 11:06:14 pm
Hello Laura,
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Eliasar Gandara
5/16/2017 08:13:47 pm
Hello Fernando,
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Joseph Molina
5/16/2017 10:25:35 pm
Good blog post Fernando. Definately agree with you, texting and driving is a hazard to everyone around you. There are times I pass by people and they are texting and driving. The only situation I see being acceptable is when navigation with GoogleMaps but other than that I cannot justify a reason for texting and driving it just too dangerous. It is unbelieveable to think that the very devices we depend on can cause such an unfortunate event.
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Jose Cortez
5/19/2017 11:13:47 pm
I agree that when using google maps people have to sometimes change their directions, however I also think that it is acceptable to look down on your phone when you need to skip a bad song.
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Ian Kindall
5/17/2017 12:12:44 am
I know that I tend to drive more cautiously when a cop is around, but at the same time I feel that I am actually driving worse because of how tense I get. Part of me feels that not knowing if the car in front of me is a cop might just make me to tense to drive at all. I also am unsure if it would actually discourage people from texting anymore than regular cops do. Usually they don't see the cop anyway so I am not sure if this would change much.
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Luigi
5/17/2017 06:21:12 pm
I don't think we can discuss this enough actually. Rarely does a day go by when I don't encounter someone driving and texting, and it seems to be a growing phenomena. People must get educated about this, just like they have been with drunk driving. Great blog post and thanks for reminding us again that we must get this issue under control.
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Alan Garcia
5/18/2017 02:03:46 pm
17
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Jose Cortez
5/19/2017 10:52:37 pm
This issue has only been getting worse throughout this last decade. It is a very dangerous act and there should be dire consequences for anyone caught doing it. I can see why people might get upset over undercover officers reporting them, however a law is a law and you should obey them at all times, not just when an officer is in the vicinity.
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James Barquera
5/20/2017 08:53:25 pm
Hey Fernando,
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Cammron Keehley
5/20/2017 10:07:56 pm
Fernando,
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Lesly Garcia
5/20/2017 11:02:55 pm
One of my biggest pet peeves is people who text and drive! I think that it's an extremely selfish act as you can hurt and even kill innocent people because that text just couldn't wait. I personally never text and drive. I make sure that I arrive at my destination safely before even looking at my phone and if I find it's extremely important to answer I will just simply pull over instead of putting my and other's lives at risk.
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Fernando MadrigalHello, my name is Fernando Madrigal and I am a Junior at CSUMB. My major is Computer Science with my concentration in Network and Security. I recently transferred from Hartnell Community College last fall. Archives
May 2017
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