Generating a Policy Proposal
Although some states and cities have passed laws to ban texting and using handheld phones while driving, there is no current law to ban all cell phone use while driving. However, according to the National Safety Council (2009), 28 percent of all crashes–1.6 million per year–are caused by cell phone use and texting by drivers. The mission of a new national nonprofit organization called FocusDriven, patterned after Mothers Against Drunk Driving, is to make phone use while driving as illegal and socially unacceptable as drunk driving. US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood supports FocusDriven and its efforts: According to the *Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,* LaHood said this movement will become “an army of people traveling the countryside” to push for bans on cell phone use and tough enforcement (Schmit, 2010). As a political advocate interested in this issue, you will be writing a policy proposal that utilizes the current research to propose a solution to the issue and submit it in this assignment. Please note that your proposal is *not* an opinion/position paper, and your conclusions need to be based on the scientific research you reviewed
earlier. Please follow the typical steps in proper academic writing (planning, outlining, drafting, revising, proofing, and editing) to generate the following proposal structure:
Introduction*
>
> In the introduction, you should set up the purpose for the proposal,
> provide a bit of background on the topic, and present your thesis.
>
> *Policy*
>
> Now that you have researched a variety of studies (in *M4: Assignment 2*),
> compile that information together to create a recommendation for policy
> makers regarding cell phone use while driving.
>
> 1: In a one-page summary, compare and contrast the results of the various
> studies regarding the cognitive abilities that are affected during cell
> phone use while driving.
>
> 2: Using that research, develop and explain particular recommendations for
> policy makers. For instance, restrict texting, or regulate the use of
> hand-held phones. All your recommendations must be supported by your
> research findings.
>
> 3: Based on the gaps in current research, describe the variables,
> populations, and situations which you would like to see future research
> address.
>
> *Conclusion*
>
> Review the important current research, your conclusions from that research,
> and how the future could look in both policy and research. Keep your goal
> in mind: To convince the reader to support your current policy proposal and
> future research to examine this issue more closely.
>
> Your proposal should be written in APA style (which includes a title page
> with running header and a reference page), and free of typographical and
> grammatical errors. The body of your proposal should be 4-5 pages long.
>
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Distracted driving takes form in diverse ways. It includes all the forms of cell-phone usage, for instance texting while driving, or receiving email. Science suggests that the brain is incapable of translating multiple bits of information in a single instance, hence the term, distracted driving. Bans have been imposed in many places, states or nations, to curb on hand-held cellphone use. In Ontario for instance, it is against the law to operate……………..
