Keep Your Eyes on the Road
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 12:26 pm
"Keep Your Eyes on the Road: The Dangers of Texting While Driving
Technology is a gift especially if used correctly but if it is abused and misused, it can trigger a disaster.
Cellular phones have proven to be indispensable in this day and age where everyone is mobile and where information and facts need to be transmitted fast. Most Americans, even children have cell phones and one is considered a throwback to the dark ages if you’re not wireless and connected.
Texting in particular, is a very popular mode of communication through the cell phone. It is fun, harmless and a much cheaper way to keep your families and friends posted through text messages¦ or at least, that’s what you think.
An article from the NBC Bay Area website said that driving while texting (DWT) is as dangerous as drunk driving (DUI).
A new survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety of 2,500 U.S. residents ages 16 and older revealed that these motorists found DWT just as dangerous to their safety as DUI but more than two-thirds have admitted to using their cell phone while driving. 21 percent also came clean about being guilty of DWT.
A study recently conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute on light and heavy trucks found that drivers who texted has a risk of collision 23 times greater.
Dialing a cell phone and using or reaching for an electronic device also increased risk of collision about 6 times in cars and trucks.
According to the Institute, right before a crash or near collision, drivers spent nearly five seconds looking at their devices.
The study also found that the use of headsets in a cell phone is not substantially safer than hand-held as performing the tasks such as answering and dialing still manage to take drivers' eyes off the road.
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in fact recommends that texting should be banned for all drivers, regardless of age and experience.
Currently, there are fourteen states that ban texting while driving, California being one of them."
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Since when did it become all right as a driver to take your eyes off the road and do something else while driving? Driving envokes a responsibilty to yourself, your passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers on the road.
When we were taught to drive, we were not taught how to drive while texting, or making a phone call, or eating a sandwich, or drinking coffee, or primping.
Now, we have to pass laws to prompt folks to use common sense.
You may very well be one of those drivers who does keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. But that doesn't mean that other driver does the same. You can still be involved in an accident with that other distracted driver.
What are your thoughts?
So let's spread the word.
To All Drivers Everywhere:
"Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel!"
Technology is a gift especially if used correctly but if it is abused and misused, it can trigger a disaster.
Cellular phones have proven to be indispensable in this day and age where everyone is mobile and where information and facts need to be transmitted fast. Most Americans, even children have cell phones and one is considered a throwback to the dark ages if you’re not wireless and connected.
Texting in particular, is a very popular mode of communication through the cell phone. It is fun, harmless and a much cheaper way to keep your families and friends posted through text messages¦ or at least, that’s what you think.
An article from the NBC Bay Area website said that driving while texting (DWT) is as dangerous as drunk driving (DUI).
A new survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety of 2,500 U.S. residents ages 16 and older revealed that these motorists found DWT just as dangerous to their safety as DUI but more than two-thirds have admitted to using their cell phone while driving. 21 percent also came clean about being guilty of DWT.
A study recently conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute on light and heavy trucks found that drivers who texted has a risk of collision 23 times greater.
Dialing a cell phone and using or reaching for an electronic device also increased risk of collision about 6 times in cars and trucks.
According to the Institute, right before a crash or near collision, drivers spent nearly five seconds looking at their devices.
The study also found that the use of headsets in a cell phone is not substantially safer than hand-held as performing the tasks such as answering and dialing still manage to take drivers' eyes off the road.
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in fact recommends that texting should be banned for all drivers, regardless of age and experience.
Currently, there are fourteen states that ban texting while driving, California being one of them."
_______________________________________________________________
Since when did it become all right as a driver to take your eyes off the road and do something else while driving? Driving envokes a responsibilty to yourself, your passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers on the road.
When we were taught to drive, we were not taught how to drive while texting, or making a phone call, or eating a sandwich, or drinking coffee, or primping.
Now, we have to pass laws to prompt folks to use common sense.
You may very well be one of those drivers who does keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. But that doesn't mean that other driver does the same. You can still be involved in an accident with that other distracted driver.
What are your thoughts?
So let's spread the word.
To All Drivers Everywhere:
"Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel!"
