Teen Drivers Banned to Use Cell Phones

Starting next July in California, the law requiring drivers to use hand-held devices while behind the wheel and the law banning teens from using any electronic device while driving will take effect.
Legislatures are stricter on teens because they believe that teenagers are not experienced enough behind the wheel to multi-task.
Using a cell phone, or any hand-held device, can easily distract a driver and cause an accident, especially now that technology has enhanced cell phones so that one’s phone can be like having a computer.
Actually, palm sized laptops are out in the market as well and can be hazardous if they are being used while driving.
I once saw someone text messaging on her cell phone, drinking a Coke, and driving at the same time. I didn’t even know that could be done!
The leading cause of teen deaths has been because of car crashes and, according to California Highway Patrol, “cell phone use is a leading cause of distracted-driver accidents.”
When I first got my license at the age of 17, I couldn’t even have a conversation with a passenger or have the radio on too loud because I was afraid I’d lose my concentration on the road.
While I was in my junior year in high school—the year when just about everyone got their license—three students died of a fatal car crashes and one student was severely injured. That is a high death toll within a school year.
The car crashes might not have been related to using cell phones while driving, but it certainly shows the inexperience of a teen driver and how easily teenagers can be distracted on the road. Talking on the cell phone can only distract a driver further more.
I mean, a teenager only has an attention span of so much, right? Trying to pay attention to the road while having a full on conversation isn’t the safest way to go.
If the call is an emergency, there is always the option of pulling over to the nearest parking lot to talk—not at a gas station though because if you don’t get into a car accident while using your cell phone, rumor has it you can explode by talking on the phone at a gas station.
Now we really have to weigh the pros and cons of having a cell phone!
Of course, many teenagers will be angry at the idea of not being able to do what they want in the privacy of their car, but that’s not a surprise. How many teens are actually happy to be told what to do?
After spending a great amount of time with the youth group at church and having two teenage sisters, I’ve noticed that teenagers love saying, “It’s my life. I can’t do whatever I want.” They really think they mean it, too.
So, I’m sure there will be rebels who will talk on the cell phone just like there are those who speed on the road, just to prove their point—that they’re “cool” and they can do whatever they want.
However, seeing as though most teens are getting paid minimum wage and there is a $50 fine for each violation, they will see what is more important to them.
Of course, not all teenagers are careless or irresponsible, but many other drivers including myself would just feel more at ease if teenagers kept both hands on the wheel and their full attention on driving safely.
Obviously, that doesn’t only include teens. Every driver in general should have their full attention on the road.
Most importantly, however, is that the law will hopefully decrease the death rate in teens.