Topic(issue)/comment(what needs to change/why how)

Thesis Worksheet

Part one:
General Topic: Distracted Driving
Controversial Issue: Texting and driving has not been addressed the same way drinking and
driving has though it is just as dangerous.
First Side:
Second Side:
Which side do I support: No texting/driving

Who is my audience: everyone

Side one: it will only take two seconds to read and respond to a text
Side two: it takes seconds for an accident to happen
Side one: the text is really important
Side two: pull over or wait for red light

https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/distracted_driving/
https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving
https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/dangers-texting-while-driving
https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812203

@distracteddrivers1104

Thesis Statement:

The technology of the 21st century has allowed society to advance exponentially. It seems,

however, that these same privileges have come to curse our same society as a whole. More

specifically, the ease of accessibility to technology paired with the fact that more people are

operating vehicles on the road today than ever before, has allowed for a culture of distracted

driving. We often hear about the strict laws and penalties surrounding driving while under the

influence of drugs or alcohol, but it has become apparent that distracted driving is the leading

cause of death in US automobile accidents.

Project Proposal:

Distracted driving is the leading cause of automobile accidents resulting in death in the United

States. Although this is undoubtedly an issue amongst all age groups, I will be initiating an

Instagram campaign to raise awareness with 16-24 year olds. The campaign will be rhetorically

charged, using tactics such as images and captions, statistics, and real life stories.

CDC
Each day in the United States, over 8 people are killed and 1,161 injured in
crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver.
in 2013, 3,154 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver,
compared to 3,328 in 2012
In 2013, 424,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a
distracted driver, an almost 10% increase since 2011.
In 2013, nearly one in five crashes (18%) in which someone was injured involved
distracted driving.
At 55 mph, the average text takes your eyes off the road long enough to cover a
football field.
In 2013, more than two out of five students who drove in the past 30 days sent a
text or email while driving.
Those who text while driving are nearly twice as likely to ride with a driver who
has been drinking.
NHTSA
claiming 3,477 lives in 2015 alone
During daylight hours, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cellphones while
driving