Texting+and+Driving

media type="custom" key="24481230" Texting and driving is very dangerous, but it is something that happens all the time. It is called a national epidemic and is becoming one of the top killers in the United States.

Some Scary Statistics:
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 * In 2011, at least 23% of auto collisions involved cell phones...that's 1.3 million crashes
 * The minimum amount of time your attention is taken away from the road when you're texting and driving is five seconds. If you're driving at 55 miles per hour, that equals driving the length of a football field without looking at the road
 * A crash is 23 times more likely to occur while texting and driving than if you are giving the road 100% of your attention
 * 77% of young adults are very or somewhat confident that they can safely text while driving
 * 55% of young adult drivers claim it is easy to text while they drive
 * Teens who text while driving spend about 10% of their driving time outside of their lane
 * But it is not just teens who are texting and driving: 27% of adults have sent or received text messages while driving
 * 1 in 5 drivers of all ages confess to surfing the web while driving
 * People justify these actions by saying: "Reading a text is safer than composing and sending one."; "They hold the phone near the windshield for better visibility."; "They increase following distance."; "They text only at a stop sign or red light."
 * There are 11 teen deaths every day because of texting and driving
 * Texting and driving is about six times more likely to cause and accident than driving intoxicated

How these scary stats are being dealt with:
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 * 10 states plus D.C. prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones
 * 32 states and D.C. prohibit novice drivers from cell phone use
 * 39 states plus D.C. prohibit all drivers from text messaging
 * DriveCam: Monitors a driver's activity and provides real-time feedback with video
 * AT&T Drive Mode: Free anti-texting and driving mobile app for Android & Blackberry
 * Text-Free-Driving Pledge: Teens and parents can also take the text-free-driving pledge: [|textinganddrivingsafety.com]

= Tips to Prevent Text Messaging while Driving: =

Tips for Teens

 * Don't be tempted: turn off your cell phone. Let voicemail capture your voice and text messages

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 * If you have to call or text while driving, pull off the road safely and stop
 * If you think you will still be tempted to text and drive, put your phone somewhere you can't reach it, like the trunk
 * Take control of your cell phone, don't let it control you. You are the only one who decides when and if you send and read a text message

= Tips for Parents  =


 * Don't call/text your teen at times when you know they are likely to be driving

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 * Review your teen's cell phone bill with them to see if they are texting at times they are likely to be driving
 * Share this information with your teen


 * Know the Colorado Graduated Drivers Licensing law. It is illegal for teens with an instruction permit to use a cell phone while driving


 * Establish family rules that prohibit texting while driving


 * Enforce punishment when your teen is guilty of texting while driving


 * Set a good example, don't text and drive



= Click the sticky note for more information and helpful tips about texting and driving: =