A recent study from Nielson has shown that teenagers send and receive 3,339 texts per month. Two years ago, Nielson reported the main reason why teenagers had a phone was for safety. Now, 43% of teens say that the number one reason for having a cell phone is for texting.Virginia Tech Transportation Institute did a study in 2009, which reported that the risk of a crash or near-crash event was 23 times higher when the driver was texting. It’s incredible how fast society changes as new digital technology becomes a social norm. One moment, cell phones were a way of keeping people safe, always having a way to call for help. The next, the use of cell phones has become a hazard to our safety on the road. The number of car accidents that involve text messaging has greatly increased; unfortunately a majority of these accidents involve teenagers. A survey at South Lyon East High School 10 out of 12 students questioned admit that they do text message and drive.
Although the majority of states have made texting while driving illegal, it considered a commonoccurrence. Even major U.S. automobile manufacturers, including General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, and Toyota, support the total ban of using handheld texting devices while drivers are at the wheel. Larry Burns, former head of R&D at General Motors, said that today's younger drivers prefer texting to driving:
“We asked younger people about texting while driving; they told us the driving distracted them from texting.”
What must our society do to eliminate this risk from our teens? Will the law actually prevent people from texting while driving or does the government need to enforce a stricter policy?
Many families have lost their children due to careless decisions on the road. People must realize that texting while driving doesn’t just put that individual in harms way, but also everyone else on the road at that time. It’s time that people make a responsible decision to save the road for driving and texting for free time.
-Kevin Etheridge
I actually came across an article that talked about the use of texting and that the number of average texts is rapidly increasing. I am probably one that falls under that category. I can't say that I have not texted while driving but when I do it, it is usually stopped at a red light. Seldom do I text while my foot is on the gas. Coming from New Jersey, it was illegal to even make a call on my cell phone while driving, unless I had a hands-free device for my phone. Coming out here, I am able to make calls without a headset which I find to be somewhat complicating in certain situations but nowhere near as bad as texting. I really wish teenagers and any of those who do text while driving, to read some of the stories that are out there about accidents and tragedies that all go back to texting while driving. Hopefully people will learn before its too late for them.
ReplyDeleteBusiness people need to 'hit the ball over the net'. Teens consider it rude not to reply immediately to texts. Home schedules would grind to a halt without immediate communication. We are conditioned to pursue this level of efficiency but we are all supposed cease this behavior once we sit in our respective 5,000 pound pieces of steel and glass. Anyone can win an argument in a forum like this by saying "Just put the phone away" - but we can see its just not happening.
ReplyDeleteI just read that 72% of teens text daily - many text more 4000 times a month. New college students no longer have email addresses! They use texting and Facebook - even with their professors. This text and drive issue is in its infancy and its not going away.
I decided to do something about it after my three year old daughter was nearly run down right in front of me by a texting driver. Instead of a shackle that locks down phones and alienates the user (especially teens) I built a tool called OTTER that is a simple app for smartphones. I think if we can empower the individual then change will come to our highways now and not just our laws.
Erik Wood, owner
OTTER LLC
OTTER app