Most of us are guilty of texting while driving and at the same time most of us are aware of how dangerous it is. So, why do we keep doing it?
On my way to work this morning, I found myself texting a friend to see what her plans were for lunch. Mind you, I’m on the highway and I found it so important to find out right then and there if she wanted to get together. I took turns watching the road and looking down at my phone but then I realized that I was going much faster than the speed limit. My first reaction was whoa, slow down! I then decided to put my phone down and just concentrate on driving (novel idea, right). When I pulled into work I started to reflect on what could have happened while I was texting – when I started to think of all of the “could haves” I found it pretty ignorant that I had even put myself and others in that situation. Had something happened, and I lived to tell the story….how would I even go about explaining myself. “I’m sorry that I killed your son – it was just so important for to figure out my lunch plans and I couldn’t wait another 10 minutes to do so.” Please – that’s one lame excuse.
I am so glad that I have finally realized the dangers of texting while driving; however, it’s left me wondering how big of a problem is this with other drivers?
Back in 2006 on CBS News – The Early Show, Susan Koeppen interviewed Patrick Sims. Sims was a Denver, CO high school senior who killed a pedestrian while texting. Sims was on his way home for Thanksgiving dinner. He was in the middle of the texting a friend when suddenly, his girlfriend screamed. He looked up and saw that he was inches away from a cyclist with no option but to run the car right into him. That result of the collision left a 63-year old grandfather dead.
“I couldn’t swerve my car, I couldn’t move it, because he was just too close,” Sims recalls. “There was nothing I could do to possibly stop the car accident from happening.”
Sims also stated “I looked away for a few seconds, and I didn’t end my life, but I ended someone else’s.”
There are several stories on the Internet where teens and even adults have come close or became part of a deadly situation while they were texting and driving. Washington became the first state to have a Driving While Texting (DWT) fine of $101. While California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, New Jersey, New York, Oregon also have banned DWT. Several other states have partial DWT laws.
Nationwide Insurance discovered that 46% of drivers ages 16 to 17 admitted to texting while driving. Nationwide Insurance also found that 37% of drivers ages 18 to 27 admitted to this deadly habit. 14% of drivers ages 28 to 44 admitted and 2% of drivers ages 45 to 60 also agreed.
Take a look at this graphic public service announcement. Let us know if you would use this as a tool to keep your teens from texting. Or if you are a teen, would this video prevent you from future DWT incidents.
A tragedy can be led by one distraction. In seconds, your life, or someone else’s can change for the worst.
(Please Take Caution: This Video Contains Graphic Images)
