Endangering Each Other with Careless Driving

Outline by Rhonda Pulley

      As I drive our highways in my day to day routines, I've had the opportunities to observe  sloppy driving habits. I've seen people speed past me only to stop at the red light, where I come up behind them, stop, and wonder to myself 'what the hurry was all about'. Was it worth risking a ticket to get there first? It gets more ridiculous from here. I take the same exit daily and always see drivers using the shoulder to pass on the right before the road widens into two lanes. I've seen police issuing tickets to drivers at that very spot. This doesn't detour them, they still use the shoulder. If the city wanted that to be a lane, they would have made it that way. Also, driving at night seems to be confusing, to some, as to how dark does it have to be to use headlights. I usually see at least one car without lights in the dark. While we're on the subject of lights, I've seen quite a few vehicles not in top operating order, that is, headlights, taillights, and turn signal that don't work. Some drivers turn signals work overtime. I've slowed down to let someone over who was signaling to change lanes, I thought. I gave my horn a toot, thinking he didn't see that I'd made room. He still didn't move over. About half a mile later he finally switched off that blinking light. How distracted are these people? Then there's the   sloppy driving habit like the left turn that uses part of the oncoming traffics lane or the right turn that uses the shoulder. We should be able to control our vehicles a lot better than we do. But tailgating has to be the worst. People seem to want to drive real close to other cars. I've been a passenger in a vehicle when the driver speeds up over the limit and I said "what are you doing"? The driver exclaimed, "I have to speed up, he's right on me"! Of course I said "No you don't"! Because I don't think we should be pushed to drive against what the law states. We all were taught the correct way to drive in the beginning but somehow have become extremely relaxed and careless with it endangering everyone around us and the vehicles we drive.

      What is Careless Driving

      The definition for careless driving is an offence to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or other public place without due care and attention. This motoring offence actually has very wide definition. The driver does not have to be driving a motor vehicle but any mechanically propelled vehicle and the offence can take place not only on public roads but any other place to which the public has access (Traffic Lawyers 4U). So I understand the definition to be saying, someone could drive a golf cart or scooter in a threatening manner and get a citation if caught. Regardless of how its worded or what the mode of transport, individuals partaking in this behavior are not concerned with the risk they put on the public. 

Let's Define Reckless Driving

     I have always thought careless driving and reckless to be one in the same but it seems there is a difference. Wikipedia says, In United States Law reckless driving is a major moving traffic violation. It is defined as a mental state in which the driver displays a wanton disregard for the rules of the road. It seems that both definitions may apply to the behaviors I've witnessed. It's all just blatant disregard for the law and another human being and or property.

Anger on the Roadways

      When our tempers flare while driving, possibly because of another drivers behavior we sometimes act on our feelings, this is called "Road Rage". According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, road rage is:

                        "An assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator

                         or passenger(s) of one motor vehicle on the operator or passenger(s) of an-

                         other motor vehicle caused by an incident that occurred on a roadway."

Many things can contribute to road rage including stress, traffic, tight schedules, anger, and frustration. The results are increased incidents of tailgating, belligerent movements, and acts of violence, including assault and murder(law.freeadvise.com). Another form is "aggressive driving". This is when 2 or more moving violations is likely to endanger other persons or property, or a single intentional violation that requires a defensive reaction of another driver(law. et al).

How All this Effects You

     Wa. DOL records state, as of Sept.2014 the total drivers in Washington is 16,685 that's 15.9% more than in 2013. With our roadway getting increasingly more congested every year couldn't we all take a deep breath and calm ourselves while we drive, until we come up with a way to expand our highways. The bold facts are when a driver injures someone else or possibly kills a person from the way they drive, that individual lives with that for the rest of his/her life. The fines, damages, and or imprisonment could also devastate a person. In conclusion I think, as drivers, we should consider how we treat each other and the consequences if it goes a rye. Peace. 

     

  

Thesis Source B; Driving with kids in the car is 12 times more distracting than a cell phone,
 by Jonathan Benson, May 23, 2013


MAIN IDEA                                   QUOTE/EVIDENCE                                    RESPONSE                

(1) implementing new                    mothers taking their eyes                         this is dangerous for
distracted driving laws                   off the road.                                              other drivers.
                                                                                                                         need to keep looking
                                                                                                                         ahead at all times.

(2) children are more                      CBS2 News studied drivers                     have another adult in         distracting than a cell                      by putting a camera in their                     the car to help.
phone.                                             car.                                                           sing to the children.
                                                        3yrs & under are the most                       get a sitter.
                                                        distracting.
                                                   

(3) driving parents can-                  compared distraction levels                     parents driving distracted
not keep looking ahead                  among participants.                                  are more likely to be in an
with children in the car.                                                                                   accident.



(4) kids vs. cell phones                   21% of the time kids distract                   driving safely is most
                                                        drivers to take their eyes off                    important.
                                                        the road completely.                                pull over of the road to
                                                                                                                         tend to kids.

Thesis Source A; Medicated Driving Elderly Awareness, by David Gutierrez; Feb. 2, 2010


  MAIN IDEA                              QUOTES/EVIDENCE                                   RESPONSE                  
(1) few elderly are aware            study conducted by U of                          The risks are real.
of the effects their meds.             Alabama @ Birmington                           Serious issue.
have on their driving.                  & AAA Foundation for                            We need to advise users
                                                    Traffic Safety report.                                 of the hazardous risks.

(2) awareness of the risks           Studies linked med. use to                        Exact # of accidents is
decreases with age while            an increase in the risk of                           unknown because safety
their meds. use increases.           auto collisions.                                          agencies don't test for
                                                                                                                      drug presence in drivers.


(3) Dr.s aren't informing             problem will worsen as elderly                Patients need to know how
their elderly patients of               population increases & be-                       their meds. will impair
the driving risks of their             come uninformed medicated                     their driving; they can
medications.                               drivers.                                                       research for themselves
                                                                                                                      @ www.roadwiseRx


(4) Natural News inter-              28% knew of the driving risk                    Should Dr.s tell DOL of       viewed 630 drivers aged            from being impaired; 18% of                     patients prescribed drug
56-93.                                         those were taking drugs known                 use?
                                                    to impair driving.                                      Stress to elderly drivers
                                                                                                                      how dangerous it is to
                                                                                                                      drive medicated.

Rhonda Pulley
English 101
Annoying Ways People Use Sources Summary


     Prepare your reader for a quote by building up to it. Then parenthesize where your quotation came from. We should never start or end a paragraph with a quote. Always be clear to stay on topic, when writing, and give facts. Writings should have a comfortable flow. You should guide your readers thoughts as to what you want to convey. Use [ ] to show that you advised something in the quotation and add your advised words where it relates in the quote. This will have a positive effect on your readers. Always use current sources, old studies or research may not be "so" for the present time.
     When citing, include the authors name on your citation page and alphabetize by authors last name. Cite entries in your text should always match the entry on the citation page.
     Proof read your work. If possible, read it to someone. If it doesn't have flow or make sense, make the necessary changes.

Project Three Research

issues/topics

1. Aggressive Drivers in Washington.

2. Oversize Elementary School Classrooms.

3. Our school children are being rushed at lunch time.

Rhonda Pulley
Summary/Body in Trouble



The writer uses logos throughout her story as she is confined to a wheelchair but claims she doesn't feel confined because she is able to write about how she feels or escape writing a story. Her body is disfigured and she is slowly losing her ability to move. People seem to not know how to take to her because of her appearance. She feels being a woman confined to a wheelchair is a kind of "double jeopardy". The metaphors she used in her story, she sort of joked about in a "back handed" way (pathos) but it seemed like she felt she had no choice but to accept as she says "I embody the metaphors" but she feels complete when she writes. She feels useful writing the soup menu for the church, she found a way to be part of no matter how society feels.
Ethos- Nancy Mairs was a Professor at two different universities and is an accomplished writer and author.

Rhonda Pulley
Summary/ How to tame a wild tongue


I felt the righter was very persuasive in getting her message across as to how she felt. She used a multitude of examples to prove her point.
In the beginning of the story she uses a form of pathos when talking about the dentist wanting to do something with her tongue, in a sort of joking manner, because it keeps geetting in his way.
The rest of her story seemed to be logos because it reached my heart in a sad way. She told us how,as a child, she was hit with the sharp edge of the ruler for not always speaking English in school. So she could not speak the way she naturally spoke. This carried over into her adult life with the people around her speaking so many forms of the Spanish language. It seemed to be a challenge to fit in just about everywhere she went. Attacking her native tongue she found to be an attack on her self esteem.
She stated until she can take pride in her language she cannot take pride in herself. Your language identifies who you are. I liked how she could get comfort from listening to the Mexican music but it disappointed me when she felt shame when she would get caught. We don't realize how society is affecting individuals unless you are that person.
The use of Ethos was fa nominal. She used quotes from righters Ray Gwyn Smith, Irena Klepfisz, John R Chavez, Hortencia S Alwan, Eduardo Hernandez-Chavez, Andrew D Cohen, Anthony F Beltramo. Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz, and Rodolfo Gonzales. Musicans Estiban Jordan, Jose Maria de Leon Hernadez,and Leonado Jimenez. Revolutionary leader Dorateo Arango. An American psychologist Gershen Kaufman. And many periods in history, Mexican sayings, as well as notations of regional area.

Rhonda Pulley
English 101



The article "If Black English Isn't a Language, Then Tell Me, What Is?" I found to be completely persuasive to any open minded adult reader as that's who I believe to be the intended audience. It states "language identifies you or who you are" and then gives many facts about how.
The writer uses Logos throughout the article stating how people everywhere adapt language to there circumstances. We pick up the style of language spoke by the people we're surrounded by in order to communicate.
 The Pathos opened my minds eye when I read the part about the black islanders coming from different tribes and not being able to talk to each other while the were chain together. How sad is that? And how the white Americans, at that time, never had any interest in teaching them our language. Or how a child cannot be taught to be someone he's not. Black English is the creation of the black diaspora.
The author uses a quote by Toni Morrison, examples of the Beat Generation and the Jazz Age to prove Ethos. In addition he also uses American history.  

Rhonda Pulley
English & 101
Malcolm X; Prison Stories


The writer was displaying Logos when he wrote about how Malcolm was frustrated with his lack of knowledge and how he taught himself by learning the dictionary page by page. And how Malcolm was as smart as a college graduate when he was finished but had actually only attended school through the eighth grade. By reading he was able to escape into a story in his imagination and be free. He may have been saying that with an education one can accomplish almost anything. He compared how staying up reading at night left him with 3 or 4 hours of sleep but out on the street he slept less.
When I read about him calling his Alma mater "Books" I thought it to be a form of Pathos because it came across as somewhat humorous, but literal, because that's soulfully how he got educated.
An example of Ethos would be Malcolm's accomplished life as a religious activist, civil rights leader as well as a prominent figure in the African-American Muslim community. Also I'd have to give the writer a lack of Ethos because he says Malcolm X lived 1925-1965 then says he was assassinated in 1963. How can you live two more years after being assassinated? Don't you die when your assassinated? Over all it was a quite an inspiring story.  

Rhonda Pulley
09/29/14
English & 101



Brenda Miller, Radical Awareness Coach is persuasive because logos, pathos, ethos are tailored to the intended audience.
Logos- The ad appeals to my logic and reasoning by stating I will "access peace, personal power, health and prosperity" as well as stating to "let go of anger, judgement, negativity, confusion, and being stuck.
Pathos- This ad lacks pathos, unless getting serious about ones mental state and all over well being can count as an emotional argument or opinion.
Ethos- The ad includes he web site, www.brendamiller.org which indicates to me that she's part of an organization (ie. .org). Her picture, phone number and a free consultation by mentioning the ad which indicate she has credibility and trustworthiness.