McNeill | 1

To: Maria Torrez Anderson, Founder of the SADD ClubFrom: Ashley McNeill, UCF writing and rhetoric studentDate: April 20, 2015RE: The Hazards of Texting While Driving

The following document that I have provided is a proposal in which I would like to inform you of the rising danger of texting and driving in the Orlando Florida area. I hope to do this by providing information that I have gathered personally and through the knowledge of others that are well versed in this issue. With the continual expansion of Orlando due to the popularity of its renowned theme parks and its thriving international airport the roads have never been more packed, or dangerous. As such we really cannot afford to take our eyes off of the road for even a moment. However, despite this texting while driving is becoming an increasingly popular trend in the Orlando metropolitan area, and as such is causing a rise in vehicular deaths. It is my hope that by providing a series of presentations that I might be able to convince these individuals of the dangers of texting-while-driving, and as a response that there may be a decrease in text-related deaths. In order to achieve this I would like to work with your school foundation the SADD Club. It is my hope that with continual interaction with your club that you may, in the future, consider instituting my issue into your organizations by-laws. This way we may be able to spread our information nationwide, and hopefully garner results in which individuals no longer find it necessary to text while driving.

Hello Mrs. Anderson, As you already know the issue of texting while driving has become an increasingly large problem. As a matter of fact, according to the National Highway and Safety Patrol, up to 12% of all fatal crashes involving at least one distracted driver are estimated to be related to cell phone use while driving (Sherin, 2014). In order to help rectify this issue it is my hope that by educating the public, particularly teenagers and their parents, that the performance of this act will decrease and eventually cease overall. Problem:Orlando is a densely populated area, with a high tourist rate due to the international airport located at its center, not to mention its large theme parks. With the continual influx of visitors the roads are already an overwhelming place, texting while driving just adds an additional distraction that will continue to make the road a dangerous place. My fear is that if we do not start taking preventative measures now by providing essential information that this issue will continue and lead to a possibly fatal trend. As a matter of fact, based off of the statistics supplied by an anonymous survey I randomly distributed to several nearby high schools, four out of every five students admitted to some form of exposure to this issue (Anonymous),; whether it is them simply sitting in the passenger seat watching the driver text while driving or them performing the act themselves. That is eighty percent of our students that are in jeopardy simply because they have not been provided the information of why it is essential to do otherwise. Solution:In order to best address this issue I have a two-part goal system. My short term goal would be to provide a series of presentations in order to start countering this issue. My long term goal would be to make this issue something acknowledged nationwide. To achieve my short term goal I would like to correspond with your school association, the SADD Club, by providing information and giving presentations to the club members. This presentation would essentially be drawing all of the information given on this topic into one place. I would like to start with visual appeals such as the commercials, posters, and bill-board advertisements. This is to create an emotional appeal, something that students can relate to. Then I would like to back these images up with facts such as statistics, laws, and other students personal accounts. This way I can localize the issue and allow the students to realize that this is an issue that is happening to people they know, and can potentially be something that happens to them if they continue to text while driving. As for the second part of my goals list I would like to continue working with your organization. However, it is my hope that, based off my performance, you may consider instituting my issue into your clubs by-laws. The reason I feel that this would be the best course of action mostly has to do with the extensive reach that your club has, you have organizations all throughout the fifty states. With this much of a reach it would be more than easy to start spreading the message, so that eventually we may notice a dramatic decrease in accidents related to texting and driving.

Qualifications:My experience has mostly been gained through the knowledge of others. I have done intense research regarding this issue, and have compiled information from several reliable sources so that I can best provide relevant information. In addition to this, I personally used to be a member of your club. My chapter, the Tavares division, focused on this issue due to the death of a fellow student. We wanted to inform others of how dangerous texting while driving could be, and worked hard to provide information to those who were willing to listen. It was during this time that I gained a special interest in this issue and began to search deeper into the problem. Conclusion:Overall, it is my hope that if we make the effort to provide information on this issue that others will make an effort to try to change their habits. If not for us then at least for themselves and the people that care about them.

Works Cited

Anonymous. "Texting While Driving." Paper copy interview.

Sherin, Kevin. "Preventing Texting While Driving." American Journal of Preventative Medicine 47.5 (2014): 681-688. Web 1 march, 2015.