Texting While Driving Kills

Texting while driving is the act of composing, sending, or reading text messages, email, or making other similar use of the internet on a mobile device, while operating a motor vehicle such as an automobile, truck or train. The practice has been viewed by many people and authorities as dangerous.

It has also been ruled as the cause of some motor vehicle accidents, and in some places has been outlawed or restricted. Texting while driving leads to increased distraction behind the wheel. In 2006, Liberty Mutual Insurance Group conducted a survey of more than 900 teens from more than 26 high schools nationwide.

The results showed that 37% of students found texting to be "very" or "extremely" distracting. A study by the AAA discovered that 46% of teens admitted to being distracted behind the wheel because of texting.


Here Are Some  Facts About Texting While Driving 

11%percent of drivers are talking on their phones at any given time, according to a federal study (NYT)

2,600 traffic deaths are caused each year by drivers using cell phones, according to a Harvard study (NYT)

570,000 accidents leading to minor and serious injuries are caused each year by cell phone distractions, according to the same Harvard study (NYT)

50% of Americans believe that texting behind the wheel should be punished at least as harshly as drunk driving (NYT/CBS Poll)

In 2007, AAA reported that 21% of fatal car crashes involving teens between the ages of 16 and 19 were the result of cell phone usage.

 The statistics on cell phone distractions already tell a devastating story, and many states have quickly moved to ban texting while driving.

What Parents Can Do

Talk to your teens NOW: Tell them the facts. Tell them that distracted driving is as dangerous as drinking and driving. Tell them what their peers say:

•87% percent of teens think that driving and texting is dangerous

•80% of teenage girls and 58% of teenage boys admitted to texting behind the wheel

•65% have asked someone to stop driving dangerously (The Allstate Foundation and National Organizations for Youth Safety, May 2009)

Set a good example: Throw your cell phone into the back seat. Don’t check your email at stoplights. If you must talk on the phone, use a hands-free headset. And never, ever text while driving.

Establish harsh consequences: If your teens practice distracted driving, take away the car keys. Immediately.

Resource

Wikipedia

commonsensemedia.org

Related articles

• Bid to stop texting at the wheel (autonetinsurance.co.uk)
• Jordin Sparks: Texting While Driving: Just DON'T Do It (You Too Mom!) (huffingtonpost.com)
• Distracted Driving is Dangerous (browardsblog.blogspot.com)
• AAA Anti-Texting Video Gets A For Effort, D For Execution (ridelust.com)
• Texting while driving 'on the rise' (autonetinsurance.co.uk)
• T-Mobile Launches Service To Block Texting While Driving (crunchgear.com)
• Do you text while driving? (ironsinmyfire.wordpress.com)