TEXTING AND DRIVING

B Y KA D E N T

A R B E T

HEAL

TH T

RIAN

GLE

M E N T A L : A F T E R T H E A C C I D E N T Y O U M A Y S U F F E R F R O M T H E A N G U I S H O F K N O W I N G Y O U K I L L E D O R S E R I O U S L Y I N J U R E D S O M E O N E F O R T H E R E S T O F T H E I R L I F E . T H I S A N G U I S H I S N O T L I M I T E D T O J U S T Y O U , I T I N V O L V E S E V E R Y O N E T H A T I S A S S O C I A T E D W I T H A N Y O N E I N T H E A C C I D E N T .

P H Y S I C A L : L I K E A N Y O T H E R C A R C R A S H Y O U C O U L D B E P H Y S I C A L L Y I N J U R E D I N A V A R I E T Y O F W A Y S . E X A M P L E S W O U L D R A N G E F R O M H E A D I N J U R E S T O M A J O R B O D Y I N J U R I E S O R E V E N L E G A N D A R M I N J U R I E S . T E M P O R A R Y O R L I F E L O N G I N J U R I E S A R E E X A M P L E S O F P H Y S I C A L I N J U R I E S .

S O C I A L : P E O P L E M I G H T C O M E T O B E L I E V E T H A T Y O U H A V E A H I S T O R Y O F B A D D E C I S I O N S I N Y O U R L I F E A N D L A C K T H E A B I L I T Y T O B E T R U S T W O R T H Y W H E N I N C H A R G E O F S I T U A T I O N S .

LIKELIHOOD TO CRASHY O U A R E F O U R T I M E S M O R E L I K E LY T O C R A S H I F Y O U A R E T E X T I N G . O T H E R R E L A T E D S T A T I S T I C S : * I N 2 0 0 9 , 5 , 4 7 4 P E O P L E W E R E K I L L E D I N T H E U . S . B E C A U S E O F A C C I D E N T S T H A T I N V O L V E D D I S T R A C T E D D R I V I N G .

* R E S E A R C H R E V E A L S T H A T 4 6 % O F D R I V E R S U N D E R 1 8 A D M I T T O T E X T I N G W H I L E D R I V I N G .

* D R I V E R D I S T R A C T I O N I S A F A C T O R I N 2 5 -T O 5 0 % O F A L L C A R A C C I D E N T S .

FROM “LAURENS STORY” BY BLONDII103, MARCH 6, 2010

A girl and her two friends were leaving Olive Garden when the driver received a text from a boy she liked. She decided to reply. During texting her level of distraction caused her to drive off the road as she slid and rolled down a hill, killing the parents in the SUV and their 3 month old baby. Also killing Laurens two friends. Lauren is now paralyzed from the waist down and has to deal with killing 5 people for the rest of her life.

STATISTICS IN UNITED STATES 2009 61% of teen drivers admit to risky driving habits. While teenagers are texting, they spend about 10% of the time outside

the driving lane they’re supposed to be in. Talking on a cell phone while driving can make a young driver’s reaction

time as slow as a 70-year-old. Responding to a text takes away your attention for about five seconds.

That is enough time to drive a football field. The under-20 age group had the highest percentage of distracted

drivers. 16% of drivers under 20 years old involved in fatal crashes were

distracted while driving. The 30- to 39-year-old age group had the highest percentage of cell

phone use in fatal crashes. For every six seconds of driving time, a driver sending or receiving a text

message spends 4.6 of those seconds with their eyes off the road.www.edgarsnyder.com/car-accident/cell-phone/statistics.html

Novice-beginner.

ALEX’S STORY TRUCKERSTEVE.ORG

Alex Brown was texting while driving on a deserted street when she swerved off the road and rolled her pick up several times. She was taken to the nearest hospital where she soon died.

Question 1: How much more are you likely to crash if you texting and driving than driving non distracted.

Answer: 4x more likely

Question 2: How many fatalities happen a year from texting and driving?

Answer: 995

Question 3: What is the definition of novice.

Answer: Beginner.

Question 4: How many deaths a year are from distracted drivers.

Answer: 6,000

I strongly believe that texting while driving should be against the law.