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Texting While Driving Is Dangerous

February 10, 2007 By Nico

The first thing that should come to mind when you read this post’s title is duh!–driving while distracted is truly dangerous. But some people are guilty of this. Some would make calls, eat, apply makeup and even fiddle with the stereo controls while driving. I think texting is one of the worst things you can do while driving.

Here’s a study that confirms this commonsensical notion that texting while driving is just plain wrong.

The federal government estimates that 30 percent of all crashes in the U-S involve driver distraction … a few states have passed laws banning the use of handheld cell phones, and some states, such as Connecticut, and the District of Columbia, fine motorists for other things, such as putting on makeup while driving or reading or writing behind the wheel.

Texting while driving takes much of your attention away from what you’re supposed to be doing. It’s very dangerous. What’s worse is that the life you may be endangering may not be yours, but someone else’s.

On the day before Thanksgiving last year, high school senior Patrick Sims was driving less than a mile from his Denver home and texting a friend, when his girlfriend suddenly screamed.

When Sims looked up, he was just inches from a cyclist in the bike lane.

The resulting collision killed a 63-year-old grandfather, and changed the teen’s life forever.

So don’t text while driving. That’s plain stupid.

If you have the compelling need to make a call or send/read a text message, pull over to the shoulder or at the side of a non-busy street and turn on your hazard lights. Be sure to apply the handbrakes and turn down your stereo so you’ll be aware if other drivers are trying to get your attention by blowing their horns. When you’re through, turn off our hazard lamps and signal left (assuming you’re on the right shoulder) to tell other drivers that you intend to move again.

If you really need to communicate and you have a companion in the vehicle, it’s better to ask that person to read or send text messages instead.

Filed Under: Safety on the Road

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