PAD 520 Learning Activity: Monitoring Observed Policy Outcomes – Discussion
My Discussion:
Cell phone distracted driving has captured the attention of nation’s political leaders and employers and they are taking action:
In December 2011, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended that all 50 states and the District of Columbia enact complete bans of all portable electronic devices for all drivers, including banning use of hands-free devices. While no state yet prohibits all drivers from any cell phone use, as of March 2012, 31 states prohibit teen drivers from any cell phone use, including handheld and hands-free.
The Federal Government has taken action. President Barack Obama issued an Executive Order banning federal employees from texting while driving.16 Rules about employee use of cell phones while driving have been issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Federal Railroad Administration.
Nearly all legislation focuses on banning only handheld phones or only texting while driving. All state laws and many employer policies allow hands-free cell phone use. Public opinion polls show people recognize the risks of talking on handheld phones and texting more than they recognize the risks of hands-free phones. Many drivers mistakenly believe talking on a hands-free cell phone is safer than handheld.
A hands-free device most often is a headset that communicates via wire or wireless with a phone, or a factory-installed or aftermarket feature built into vehicles that often includes voice recognition. Many hands-free devices allow voice-activated dialing and operation. Hands-free devices often are seen as a solution to the risks of driver distraction because they help eliminate two obvious risks, visual, looking away from the road and manual, removing your hands off of the steering wheel. However, a third type of distraction can occur when using
Learning Activity: Monitoring Observed Policy Outcomes
After viewing this week’s presentations and completing the reading assignments, each student is to write their own Discussion Board (DB) question on the topic of policy analysis and assembling evidence based on the readings and course content. Then, provide a comprehensive, well-reasoned and evidence-based response to your own prompt in 250–500 words. You will submit your response as a paper assignment.
Remember that the response must be thoughtful and comprehensive, citing outside sources as supporting evidence (details, sensible approach) and the writing represents Strayer Writing Standards and style in tone, clarity, citations and stylistic points.
Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:
In reference to policy outcomes and choice, discuss how you would defend hands-free cell phone usage while driving. Also contribute your initial research impressions on this topic by providing data from a state on safety/citation records. See
Distracted Driving
to assist in your research.
Cell phone distracted driving has captured the attention of nation’s political leaders and employers and they are taking action:
In December 2011, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended that all 50 states and the District of Columbia enact complete bans of all portable electronic devices for all drivers, including banning use of hands-free devices. While no state yet prohibits all drivers from any cell phone use, as of March 2012, 31 states prohibit teen drivers from any cell phone use, including handheld and hands-free.
The Federal Government has taken action. President Barack Obama issued an Executive Order banning federal employees from texting while driving.16 Rules about employee use of cell phones while driving have been issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Federal Railroad Administration.
Nearly all legislation focuses on banning only handheld phones or only texting while driving. All state laws and many employer policies allow hands-free cell phone use. Public opinion polls show people recognize the risks of talking on handheld phones and texting more than they recognize the risks of hands-free phones. Many drivers mistakenly believe talking on a hands-free cell phone is safer than handheld.
A hands-free device most often is a headset that communicates via wire or wireless with a phone, or a factory-installed or aftermarket feature built into vehicles that often includes voice recognition. Many hands-free devices allow voice-activated dialing and operation. Hands-free devices often are seen as a solution to the risks of driver distraction because they help eliminate two obvious risks, visual, looking away from the road and manual, removing your hands off of the steering wheel. However, a third type of distraction can occur when using cell phones while driving and cognitive while taking your mind off the road.