Government Regulation: Ban Texting While Driving Essay

In 2009, “Americans sent an estimated 1.5 trillion text messages (Texting While Driving)”.   According to a poll conducted in 2009, by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 95% agreed that texting while driving is objectionable behavior.   In addition, 85 % of drivers polled considered texting while driving to be a “very serious” safety hazard.   Yet according to a June 2010   poll conducted by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, almost half (47%) the drivers polled admit to texting while driving (Texting While Driving).   Therefore, despite the dangers associated with texting while driving, many Americans continue to participate in this reckless habit.   Drivers that text while driving endanger not only themselves, but their passengers, other motorist, and unsuspecting pedestrians.   Studies show that this risky behavior is dangerous and can be deadly; therefore, to protect the well being of the innocent, texting while driving should be banned.
Clearly, opponents are not concerned about the protection of the general public, but rather more fearful of government intrusion on their personal life.   Opponents maintain that if the government’s objective is to legislate distractions to drivers, then such things as eating, applying make-up, GPS systems, talking on cell phones, billboard ads, music, and passengers, should be banned, also.   Arizona Senator, Ron Gould, said that trying to get the last ice cube in a fountain
drink cup while driving can cause a driver to lose focus, but “we don’t need special legislation to outlaw Big Gulps (Cooper).”   The government should not govern all aspects of its citizen’s lives.   However, when the safety and well being of all citizens is compromised by irrational behavior, the government must create laws.   Driving is a privilege and abuser of this privilege should have restraints sanctioned against them.   The governments must step in, whether local or national, and ban texting while driving.
As of September 2010, a total of...