I have seen people do some of the craziest things while driving; shaving, eating a bowl of cereal, putting on makeup, and even reading books.  But I am now here to say,  “When you are driving do not text and when you are texting do not drive”. This maybe the last or the best advice you have heard in your life. 

The pandemic risks of teens and adults texting while driving have almost rivaled dangers posed by drinking and driving.  This is an important issue which needs the “think tank” of first world countries. Nearly 50% of teenagers and even more than 50% of adults admitted that they do text messaging while driving on the road.  Hey I have done it too. (I used to.)

Teen-aged drivers are between the ages of 16 to 24 and it is alarming to note that teen fatalities caused by text messaging are growing 4% yearly. In a study made among high school students nationwide, 60% admitted risky driving and text messaging behind the wheels. Despite their full awareness of the danger, they did nothing to curtail it.  You know kids think they are never going to die and certainly not in their lifetime.

In 2002, Harvard Center for Risks Analysis accounted that more than 2,000 people die each year from car crashes while the driver is text messaging while around 330,000 people are injured in car crashes annually.  Studies also revealed that talking or dialing the mobile while manipulating a car takes eyes off or attention off the road more than 400% of the time. They know that motorist using a cell phone is 4 times more likely to crash.  It is a fact that 44% of American vehicles have mobile or installed phones.

Although teen-agers and adults admit the risk, this does not hinder them from receiving and texting messages while driving. Meanwhile statistics on car accidents, death and injuries due to texting are growing.

Since the biggest influence on the behavior of the young is the parents, if you have kids, you have the obligation to instruct your children on road safety.  Some of the young drivers admitted that their parents gave them driving restriction and even threaten them with penalties. But seldom are penalties imposed for this infringement of behavior.  As a result, more than half tend to disregard this imposition and only a small third followed their parents’ instructions.  Many claimed that their own parents also do message texting while on the wheel. Parents must act as models to their children’s behavior.

US legislation, aware of the growing dangers, unveiled the ALERT Act; this bill penalizes drivers who are sending email or text while driving in any part of the country. If the bill is enacted into a law, States that do not follow the text-banning law will be deducted 25% of their federal highway fund.

Insurance companies are supporting this ban on texting. The increasing occurrence of road accidents is adding burden to auto insurance companies. Insurance companies make strict investigation and check-up on the cell phone of drivers if it is a contributory factor to the accident. The cost of car insurance will probably rise if the trend of text-related crashes rises.

While passing Legislation marks a good beginning, a strong public demand is more on the development of a technology that will insure road safety in spite of text messaging.

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