I’m pretty sure your writing teachers have instructed you on the finer points of writing a variety of essays, including the persuasive essay, compare and contrast essay, and argument essay.
You have these skills fine-tuned and can hold your own with the best of them. The problem is, now you’ve been assigned to write about texting while driving. All you know about it is that it’s banned in your state—and that it’s really hard to resist the temptation to check your phone when you drive.
How do you learn more about your subject? Research, of course.
Even though you don’t know much about the subject (now), you do know that, without at least a few sources, your essay will be derailed, and your grade will be a complete train wreck.
To avoid such a disaster, take control of your paper and check out these 12 (+2) texting while driving articles to get your paper on track.
12 (+2) Texting While Driving Articles
I’ve divided the 12 texting while driving articles below into two basic categories to help you find the information you’re looking for: organizations/statistics and news. I’ve also included two related sources at the end of this post to provide another perspective on texting.
For each source, I’ve included an MLA citation. If you decide to use one of these sources, make sure to change the date of access to the date you viewed the source.
Of course, if you’re using APA (or another citation style), you’ll need to change the citation to the proper format.
4 Texting While Driving Articles on Organizations and Statistics
You might consider using some of the shocking statistics found in these four sources to start your introduction or to convince your readers just how dangerous texting while driving can be.
1. The Dangers of Texting While Driving
Posted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), this website provides current statistics about texting and driving. It includes links to a variety of resources, including the Distracted Driving Information Clearinghouse and state laws regarding use of electronic devices while driving vehicles. If you do not have your own vehicle just yet, check this 1966 Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra GT350 and always remember to not text and drive.
7th Edition MLA Citation
“The Dangers of Texting While Driving.” FCC.gov. Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
8th Edition MLA Citation
“The Dangers of Texting While Driving.” FCC.gov, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, www.fcc.gov/ consumers/guides/dangers-texting-while-driving. Accessed 10 Mar. 2016.
2. How You Can Help Your Teen
Teen Driver Source, established by The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, provides teen texting and driving statistics, advice for parents, and links to additional resources.
Articles posted on this website are written and/or reviewed by board-certified MDs and PhDs. Therefore, this website is credible and passes the CRAAP test.
7th Edition MLA Citation
“Texting and Driving Facts.” Teen Driver Source. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
8th Edition MLA Citation
“Texting and Driving Facts.” Teen Driver Source, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, www.teendriversource.org/more_pages /page/texting_and_driving_facts/for_parents. Accessed 10 Mar. 2016.
3. Facts and Statistics
Published by the US government, this website includes a variety of useful resources, including definitions, statistics, and resources for teens, parents, schools, and employers.
7th Edition MLA Citation
“Facts and Statistics.” Distraction.gov. US Department of Transportation, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
8th Edition MLA Citation
“Facts and Statistics.” Distraction.gov, US Department of Transportation, www.distraction.gov/stats-research-laws/facts-and-statistics.html. Accessed 10 Mar. 2016.
4. Distracted Driving
Published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this government website includes statistics, risk factors, and additional resources.
The site contains links to sources cited within the website, further enhancing the credibility of the content.
7th Edition MLA Citation
“Distracted Driving.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. US Department of Health & Human Services, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
8th Edition MLA Citation
“Distracted Driving.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Department of Health & Human Services, www.cdc.gov/ motorvehiclesafety/distracted_driving/. Accessed 10 Mar. 2016.
8 News Articles About Texting While Driving
You can use these texting while driving articles from the news throughout your paper to include additional statistics, offer an overview of the problem, explain why people text, and provide specific examples of those directly impacted by texting while driving.
5. Young People More Likely to Text While Driving If Friends Do: Study
Published by long-time news source U.S. News & World Report, this article includes the results of a University of Maryland study. In the study, the researcher found that college students were more likely to text and drive if their friends engaged in the same risky behavior.
7th Edition MLA Citation
Dallas, Mary Elizabeth. “Young People More Likely to Text While Driving If Friends Do: Study.” U.S. News & World Report. U.S. News & World Report, 16 Feb. 2016. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
8th Edition MLA Citation
Dallas, Mary Elizabeth. “Young People More Likely to Text While Driving If Friends Do: Study.” U.S. News & World Report, 16 Feb. 2016, health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2016-02-16/young-people-more-likely-to-text-while-driving-if-friends-do-study. Accessed 10 Mar. 2016.
6. Senate votes to add penalties for texting school bus drivers
Though brief, this Associated Press article reports on the Tennessee senate’s vote to increase penalties of school bus drivers caught texting. The penalty went from a $50 fine to a minimum 30-day jail sentence and a $1,000 fine.
Now published online, the Washington Times newspaper is well-established and was first published in 1982.
7th Edition MLA Citation
“Senate Votes to Add Penalties for Texting School Bus Drivers.” WashingtonTimes.com. The Washington Times, 7 Mar. 2016. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
8th Edition MLA Citation
“Senate Votes to Add Penalties for Texting School Bus Drivers.” The Washington Times, 7 Mar. 2016, www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/7/ senate-votes-to-add-penalties-for-texting-school-b/. Accessed 10 Mar. 2016.
7. Middle-Aged Drivers Admit To Using Cell Phones When Behind The Wheel
While many associate texting and driving with teens, a study by the University of California, San Diego reports that middle-aged drivers are also likely to text and drive. The majority of those surveyed said they were most likely to answer calls from work while driving.
The content of this Huffington Post article can be verified easily as the article provides links to the original study cited and to the original authors of the study.
7th Edition MLA Citation
Brenoff, Ann. “Middle-Aged Drivers Admit to Using Cell Phones When Behind the Wheel.” HuffingtonPost.com. Huffington Post, 21 Aug. 2015. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
8th Edition MLA Citation
Brenoff, Ann. “Middle-Aged Drivers Admit to Using Cell Phones When Behind the Wheel.” Huffington Post, 21 Aug. 2015, www.huffingtonpost.com/ entry/middle-aged-drivers-admit-to-using-cell-phones-when-behind-the-wheel_us_55d731cee4b0f593f7f705ff. Accessed 10 Mar. 2016.
8. Minn. teen charged in fatal texting while driving crash
This article tells the story of a texting and driving 17-year-old girl who killed a father and his young daughter. The teen was posting to Facebook when she ran a red light and slammed into the other vehicle.
The information is published by long-time news source CBS News and is considered credible.
7th Edition MLA Citation
“Texting While Driving, Minnesota Teen Kills Father and Daughter.” CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 20 Oct. 2015. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
8th Edition MLA Citation
“Texting While Driving, Minnesota Teen Kills Father and Daughter.” CBSNews, CBS Interactive, 20 Oct. 2015, www.cbsnews.com/news/texting-and-driving-minnesota-teen-kills-father-and-daughter/. Accessed 10 Mar. 2016.
9. Missouri interest groups push for texting-while-driving ban
This brief article posted in the online version of a credible Washington newspaper reports that groups, including law enforcement and health care workers, are urging lawmakers to ban texting while driving in Missouri.
7th Edition MLA Citation
“Missouri Interest Groups Push for Texting-while-driving Ban.” HeraldCourier.com. Bristol Herald Courier, 7 Mar. 2016. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
8th Edition MLA Citation
“Missouri Interest Groups Push for Texting-while-driving Ban.” Bristol Herald Courier, 7 Mar. 2016, www.heraldcourier.com/news/missouri-interest-groups-push-for-texting-while-driving-ban/article_3634194e-901a-56e9-9fea-ba53f3ced404.html. Accessed 10 Mar. 2016.
10. Texting while driving kills, but will we stop?
Though most people agree that texting while driving is dangerous, in a USA Today study, many people reported that they still text while driving because they simply cannot resist the urge to check their phones.
This source is considered credible as it’s published by the well-respected news source, USA Today.
7th Edition MLA Citation
Bowerman, Mary. “Texting While Driving Kills, but Will We Stop?” USAToday.com. USA Today, 12 Mar. 2015. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
8th Edition MLA Citation
Bowerman, Mary. “Texting While Driving Kills, but Will We Stop?” USA Today, 12 Mar. 2015, www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/03/12/texting-driving-dangerous-behavior/70147834/. Accessed 10 Mar. 2016.
11. This Teen Glanced At Her Phone For Just A Second And Her Life Changed Forever
Published in conjunction with Huff Post and OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network), this story contains images (some graphic) and details of one girl’s near-death experience and the devastating trauma she has faced because of her decision to text her mom while driving.
7th Edition MLA Citation
Capretto, Lisa. “This Teen Glanced at Her Phone for Just a Second and Her Life Changed Forever.” Huffingtonpost.com. Huffington Post, 7 Mar. 2016. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
8th Edition MLA Citation
Capretto, Lisa. “This Teen Glanced at Her Phone for Just a Second and Her Life Changed Forever.” Huffington Post, 7 Mar. 2016, www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/liz-marks-texting-driving-accident_us_56d878f3e4b0ffe6f8e86932. Accessed 10 Mar. 2016.
12. Students learn in virtual reality about dangers of texting and driving
Published by an NBC affiliate, this article discusses options to help teens realize the dangers of texting while driving. The article highlights a virtual reality simulator that allows teens to safely experience the dangers of driving while distracted.
7th Edition MLA Citation
Gaither, Mandy. “Students Learn in Virtual Reality about Dangers of Texting and Driving.” WYFF4. NBC, 26 Feb. 2016. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
8th Edition MLA Citation
Gaither, Mandy. “Students Learn in Virtual Reality about Dangers of Texting and Driving.” WYFF4, NBC, 26 Feb. 2016, www.wyff4.com/news/students-learn-in-virtual-reality-about-dangers-of-texting-and-driving/38195384. Accessed 10 Mar. 2016.
2 Bonus Articles on Texting While Walking
These are the +2 resources I mentioned earlier. Even though texting while walking is certainly different than texting while driving, these two articles point out that texting is causing other problems in our lives.
Texting and walking is not only dangerous to pedestrians, but it can also be a danger to drivers. Why? People who text while walking are more likely to walk into oncoming traffic.
1. Texting While Walking Isn’t Funny Anymore
This timely article published by the well-respected Wall Street Journal informs readers that pedestrian accidents are increasing due to distracted walking. The article also includes a discussion of the ways in which cities are trying to cut down on accidents, such as posting signs and creating texting pathways for pedestrians.
7th Edition MLA Citation
Fowler, Geoffrey A. “Texting While Walking Isn’t Funny Anymore.” WSJ. Wall Street Journal, 17 Feb. 2016. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
8th Edition MLA Citation
Fowler, Geoffrey A. “Texting While Walking Isn’t Funny Anymore.” Wall Street Journal, 17 Feb. 2016, www.wsj.com/articles/texting-while-walking-isnt-funny-anymore-1455734501. Accessed 10 Mar. 2016.
2. Texting While Walking: Are You Cautious Or Clueless?
This article, published online by NPR (National Public Radio) discusses the dangers of texting and walking. The article reports that those texting and walking not only walk more slowly, but are also more likely to walk into oncoming traffic.
NPR is a multimedia news organization with nationwide departments covering current, relevant information. NPR is certainly considered a credible research source.
7th Edition MLA Citation
“Texting While Walking: Are You Cautious or Clueless?” NPR. NPR, 30 July 2015. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
8th Edition MLA Citation
“Texting While Walking: Are You Cautious or Clueless?” NPR, 30 July 2015, www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/07/29/427417340/texting-while-walking-are-you-cautious-or-clueless. Accessed 10 Mar. 2016.
Now You’re On Track
Starting your research with a few key texting while driving articles or other sources is the perfect way to keep your paper on track.
If your paper about texting while driving is a research-based essay in need of some serious research, check out these sources:
- How to Write a Research Paper: A Step-by-Step Guide
- 5 Best Resources to Help With Writing a Research Paper
Also, check out these example texting and driving essays written by students just like you. Then don’t forget to read How to Write a Texting While Driving Essay That Doesn’t Suck.
If you’re worried that your paper isn’t the best it can be and might fly off the tracks at any moment, have one of our awesome editors provide some feedback to help put you back on course!
