TEXTING AND DRIVING
Why Do It?
Since the year 2000 the cell phone
has evolved each year, making the lives of its users easier and making itself a
practical necessity. People can surf the web, play games, send e-mails, take
pictures and most of all TEXT MESSAGEING, all on their phone. Last year CTIA
found that 158 billion text messages were sent in the United States.
When a person is driving a car and
they hear their phone making a sound, the first instinct is to pick up the
phone a find out who is calling; now it is to see a text message. According to
Infographic, “Statistics show that texting is more dangerous than talking on
the phone and drunk driving, and yet so many people text while driving and
assume it isn’t as dangerous.” So why do people do it?
Many drivers, especially teenage
drivers, tell themselves that their driving is good enough; I know my phone or it’s
just a simple text. "Sociologists
call it pluralistic ignorance. It's this concept where reality applies to
everybody but me," says Kevin Wehr, an assistant professor of sociology at
California State University.
A Hampton
University student, Terrell Madison was recently a victim of a texting driver.
Madison was leaving the library’s 24 hour study room when he was hit while
crossing the street. This driver not did not use good judgment and has now
caused Madison’s life to change forever as well as hers. He now cannot write,
walks with a cane, and because of physical therapy sessions he is unable to go
home for the holidays.
Laws
have been passed to ban the use of cell phones while in the car. Out of the 51
states 20 have banned cell phone usage for all drivers. In California if a
person is caught on the phone while driving there is a $20 fine for the first
defense and $50 for the rest.
Although
laws have passed banning cell phone usage it is not the only prevention that can
be made. Parents, role models, and peers can act in the reduction of texting
and driving by simply leading by example. A Liberty Mutual
Insurance survey showed that 69 percent of parents of teen drivers practice at
least two dangerous or distracting behaviors while driving.
Make the change and stop this
hazardous action and for more information on texting and driving talk with a
local insurance agent.
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