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Distracted Driving

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Distracted Driving: It's Time to Get on the Same Page
In 2010, 3092 people were killed, and about 416,000 others were injured in vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver in the United States. Of those killed, 408 occurred when at least one of the drivers was using a cell phone, which equates to about thirteen percent (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA], 2012, para. 4). Because of this alarming and increasing statistic, I believe there should be standardized regulations, not outright bans, regarding the use of cell phones by drivers.
Distracted driving can be broken down into three main types of distractions: Visual, manual, and cognitive. A visual distraction is anything that causes a driver to take their eyes off the road. Manual is a distraction that involves taking one’s hands off the wheel. Cognitive distractions cause drivers to take their mind off what they are doing. Distracted driving activities include things like using a cell phone, texting, and eating. Even using in-vehicle technologies such as navigation or the radio are sources of distractions ("Distracted Driving," 2013, para. 2).
I believe that distractions will always remain an issue with drivers, be it cell phones, eating, or applying make-up, but the question remains: What can be done to prevent or reduce accidents? A lot of it boils down to proper training during the process of acquiring a learner permit. Often, a book full of rules of the road is issued to prospective drivers. Those teens are tasked with reading, comprehending, and passing a test to receive their permit. They spend the next six or twelve months learning to drive with an adult licensed driver. Once that time has passed they go back to their local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and conduct a driving test. Upon passing this test, the young driver is given his/her driver license.
But

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