Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Texting While Driving May Be A Greater Epidemic Then Drunk Driving Or Teachers Sleeping With Students


It is an epidemic. It may be the end of commuting as we know it today. Inflated gas prices? No. Texting! According to Time Magazine, a Nationwide Insurance survey found that 18% of cell phone owners text and drive at the same time! The drivers surveyed were between the ages of 16 and 30. This is the texting generation. YouTube has videos of drivers texting. There are about 600 members of a Facebook group called "I Text Message People While Driving And I Haven't Crashed Yet!" (These cavalier posters are facilitating a civil suit against them when they do crash.)

Texting while driving has been a likely factor in fatal accidents in more than 20 states in 2008. Alaska, Washington, New Jersey, Minnesota and the District of Columbia have laws prohibiting texting while driving. Louisiana's law is expected to be signed by the Governor any day.


But do the laws work? Texting bans are hard to police. Texting is often done with the phone held on drivers' laps. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that North Carolina's cell-phone ban for drivers under 18 did not work. So why expect a texting ban to be followed? In North Carolina, it was thought that cell phone use actually increased or stayed the same after the ban. 100 cell-phone violations were issued in North Carolina to teens in 2007 . Because publicity of the evils of texting and driving may work. After fatal crashes in New York involving text messaging, the public is starting to ask their state officials to do something about it. Perhaps public awareness can become a deterrent.


Education always seems helpful, but with some teachers having affairs with students, perhaps that would create an even greater distraction. But the teacher- student problems in Tampa are a discussion for another day.

Experts on the subject do not think teachers sleeping with students is an epidemic but reporting of such crimes is on the rise. From the smiles on the faces of some of the 17 year old victims, one may suspect that reporting of the crime has become a method of bragging in some cases.
Update 7-29-09: Texting increases the risk of an accident by over 20 times! http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9135969/Texting_while_driving_increases_crash_risk_23_fold_?source=CTWNLE_nlt_pm_2009-07-28

Update 5-14-11: As of 7-1-11, Indiana joins the other 32 states that have banned texting while driving. Cal, Conn, Md, N.J., NY, Ore, Wash. D.C. and the Virgin Islands prohibit all cell phone use while driving. Keep in mind, all states punish distracted driving. Be careful!


22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Texting is bad while driving, but sleeping with students while teaching is worse!

Pops

Ms Calabaza said...

Teenagers driving while texting scare the heck out of me.

Anonymous said...

teenagers having sex with teachers who are texting all while driving is even more scary.

Secrets said...

LOL! THAT WAS FUNNY ANONYMOUS.

SAD TO SAY I'M GUILTY OF TEXTING WHILE DRIVING. BUT I DONT DO IT ANYMORE. I HAVE A NEW DRIVER IN MY HOUSE AND I DONT WANT TO SET A BAD EXAMPLE.

BUT WHILE I'M CONFESSING........IN MY YOUNGER DAYS, WHEN I WAS LATE FOR WORK AND HAD TO MULTITASK, I PREPARED FOOD, TALKED ON THE PHONE, APPLIED MAKEUP, AND DID A FEW OTHER THINGS ALL WHILE DRIVING A STICK.

I'M A DAMN GOOD DRIVER!

Anonymous said...

I need to go back to school!

Anonymous said...

Once, I was texting my social studies teacher while I was with my speech teacher who was improving my oral skills

Anonymous said...

Distracted education is bad for the brain. My teacher was too hot to concentrate on any figures other than hers. Distracted driving is fatal. Pull over to the side of the road to talk, text or fondle the keyboard...

old Gramps

Anonymous said...

Old Gramps

Some wise advice you give. But it should not be the law.


hk.Y.

Anonymous said...

bad facts make bad laws.

Legal Pub said...

The latest statistic reveals that texting while driving increases the risk of an accident by over 20times!

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9135969/Texting_while_driving_increases_crash_risk_23_fold_?source=CTWNLE_nlt_pm_2009-07-28

Anonymous said...

Just don't do it!

Legal Pub said...

Time to recognize that a car is potentially a lethal weapon in the hands of a distracted driver!

Anonymous said...

I read on another site that some kid believes that texting while driving causes accidents, traffic jams, tailgating, and serious driver distraction. However, she goes on to say it is a moral issue? What the heck are kids learning now days about morals?

It is a legal issue not a moral issue. Once it is a law, then conscientiously deciding to break the law may be a moral issue. But the law itself is does not legislate morality. Get a clue!

Anonymous said...

How much longer before all states ban cell phone use in autos?

Unknown said...

At least texting while driving can be enforced.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I support banning texting while driving but not hands free cell talk.

Leagle Eagle 3 said...

Now Joe, take your b.s. spamming elsewhere or you will be charged an advertising fee. Ads are not free and you will be held accountable.

Legal Eagle 3

Anonymous said...

taking one's eyes off the road is always a hazard...

Anonymous said...

Texting while driving is just plain nuts.

Legal Pub said...

Update 5-14-11: As of 7-1-11, Indiana joins the other 32 states that have banned texting while driving. Cal, Conn, Md, N.J., NY, Ore, Wash. D.C. and the Virgin Islands prohibit all cell phone use while driving. Keep in mind, all states punish distracted driving. Be careful!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the help with my home work on texting and driving, LOL.