Stop Texting While Driving
by Chris Antoine
The Unsafe Streets
Texting while driving is becoming a serious issue in the United States. Even though it is said that texting while driving links to teenagers, adults are just as guilty. In 2011 at least 23 percent of auto collisions involved cellphones and texting. That is 1.3 million crashes that occurred because people were to distracted with their cellphones and texting. Do you really want your teenage son or daughter to drive the streets knowing that they might be putting their lives in danger by texting and driving.
Facts on Texting While Driving
The minimal amount of time spent while texting is 5 seconds. If you are driving 55 mph in those 5 seconds you traveled the distance of a football field. A lot of bad thing can happen in those 5 seconds. Texting is also the longest eyes off the road activity that distracts drivers. When you are talking on the phone your risk to be in an accident increases by 1.3x more. When you reach for your phone it increases by 1.4x more. When you text your risk is increased by 2.8x.
Teens Who Text In Certain Areas
Over the past few years there has been a rise of teens who text and drive. Urban areas have been increasing and the number needs to go down.
Teens Who Text In Highschool
Most teens who text and drive are upper class men in high school. More than half of high school seniors admitted to texting while driving in a survey.
Deaths By Age
The deaths by age my texting and driving is shocking. The group age wise that has the most deaths are from ages 16-19. Teenagers are at a way higher risk of losing their lives while texting and driving.
Fatal Crash
Can you imagine the death of your friend being your fault? Or even you killing someone else. Its something you will wake up to everyday thinking about. These are the risk you take when you text and drive. Like a 16 year old teenager who was charged with manslaughter in 2011. Rachel N. Gannon was texting on her phone when she lost control of her car. She crashed into the car that was driven by Loretta J. Larimer who was 72 years old. Loretta was killed on impact. Rachel is faced with 4 years in prison on the charge of manslaughter.