Texting and Driving

Texting While Driving Did you know that in 2011 23% of auto collisions involved cell phones? That is 1.3 MILLION crashes (D7 R.W). Cell phones are huge distractions and are especially dangerous on the road. Being in a huge, fast, and solid peice of metal, you don't need any distractions. I'm Renae and this is Karli. I would like for you to think before picking up that phone in the car. One of the big obvious reasons is that it is extremely dangerous (2C R.W) and nearly 500,00 people are injured annually. Over 6,00 are killed each year because of drivers talking, texting, and emailing behind the wheel. Once you are on the road, right when you pick up your phone, you are 23 times more likely to get in an accident than non-texting drivers (4A K.S + R.W). Not only do you put yourself at risk but you put others also. Nicole Meredith, 18, experienced the dangers of teexting while driving as well as John Breen, 28. Nicole and John both were texting and both totaled their cars due to this mistake. Nicole survived with a story to tell, but John left the world, torn and shattered. Margay Schee, 13, was also unlucky when her school bus was rear ended by an 18-wheeler who was found texting while driving. It could have been prevented if they had waited to open/recieve these text messages.(Edgins) (Breen) (Burgos) (Oprah) 1/5 drivers of all ages confess to surfing the web while driving and justify it as reading is safer than composing, they get "better visibility" by holding their phone to the windsheild, increase following distance, and only text at a red light or stop light (10D R.W). Would you think the same? Not only do drivers find it fair to text and drive, scientists and doctors find that getting a text makes you happier and also helps HIV sufferers take their meds (Sue K.S). Over 10 states in the US allow texting and driving, and haven't permitted it as illegal(David R.W). 10 states plus D.C prohibit all drivers from using cell phones while 39 states plus D.C prohibit all drivers from text messaging. Some states don't care at all as to what may cause an accident, a squirrel or a text message from Granny Bacon. (11D R.W) Not only is it dangerous, it is distracting! In 2009, over 448,00 people were injured/killed in the US due to motor vehicle accidents caused by distracted driving (15F R.W). As it may not take long to look at a text, in those 2 to 7 seconds, you are putting yourself at risk. Talking on the phone though is another deal. You can watch the road while talking and everything will be fine, right? Wrong! You take your eyes off to get to the number or to pick it up and even then, you could cause harm to anybody or anything in your surrounding area (Associated K.S). Cj, for example, was a single father of 2 when he was hit by a man when he was texting while driving on September 11, 2010. Torn away from his children, he didn't lose his life without rememberance. His fiance who was also in the truck, tells the story of how CJ saved her precious life in the last minute (CJ). Stories like these are what inspire Renae and I to stand up here and share what we have learned of other peoples losses. Remember when you drive on the road, no matter how reckless your parents tell you, you are, you have a responsibility and that responsibility is to watch out for you and the others in your vehicle. Don't text and drive. It's the DUI of the technology world and you don't want to be torn away from family or friends, shattering the hearts of the ones you love. Thank you for your attention.