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Lawbreaker… Well that’s a pretty nasty word. What would you do if someone called you a lawbreaker? It’s not like you’ve knocked someone’s lights out or swiped a purse right? I’m hinting at something even less subtle than cruising 5 over the speed limit. The culprit just might be the mobile device that you’re reading this article on! The unfortunate truth is that the majority of people with cellphones and access to a vehicle are lawbreakers. If you have ever texted while driving you just know that it’s a bad idea. In fact, there is an 88% chance that it’s downright ILLEGAL! That’s right, 44 states have completely banned it.
This socially accepted menace has even stole the DWI title from the drunks: Driving While Intexticated. Many of us have at one time or another texted while driving without consciously understanding what’s at stake. No matter how good of a driver you think you are, sending a text message while driving is like playing Russian roulette. Sooner or later the bullet is going to be in the chamber.
The number of deaths attributed to texting-related accidents is astounding. Between 2001 and 2007, 16,141 people died as a result of texting while driving. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, a driver that is texting while driving is 23X more likely to get into a car accident. The Institute for Highway Safety Fatality Facts reports 11 teen deaths every day as a result of texting while driving. The facts are grim my friends. Click here to see a good illustration of more findings.
So what can be done to keep you and your passengers safe? Research shows that safety is increased by one billion percent by turning off your phone, buckling up and keeping your eyes on the road. So when it comes to texting and driving, do the opposite of the Nike motto.
