Followers

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Signs, Signs - Don't Text & Drive

While looking through my photos of Monster Jam, I noticed this on the back of Mountaineer's truck "Don't Text & Drive" with a picture of Caitlyn Nichole. I tried to find more info about the message to no avail.
Texting and driving is something I worry about, being the mother of a teen driver and another soon to be teen driver, this year. I hope the statistics and lectures on texting and driving have scared them enough from doing it.
Here's some disturbing stats I have found:

DWI: Driving While InTEXTicated

In 2011 at least 23% of auto collisions involved cell phones which translates to 1.3 million crashes

5 seconds is the minimal amount of time your attention is taken away from the road when you're texting and driving : if you are travelling at 55 mph this equals driving the length of a football field without looking at the road.

Text messaging makes a crash 23X more likely : Dialing 2.8X
Talking or listening 1.3X
Reaching for a device 1.4X

77% of young adults are very or somewhat confident that they can safely text while driving

55% of young drivers think it is easy to text while they drive

For more statistics and what is being done you can visit Texting and Driving Safety

Linking with Signs, Signs

24 comments:

  1. i have been guilty of reading emails and driving. i truly have tried not to do so any more. and if i type anything, i have to pull over.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I never text while driving. But I am quilting of talking on the phone.
    It would be good for everyone to read these statistics.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I followed a car recently that was driving from one side of the lane to the other. Along with the thought had they been drinking or where they sleepy, I also wondered if they are talking on the phone or texting. This is such an important post, thanks for sharing it. A good reminder that safety should always come first.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I never have done it unless I'm stuck in a traffic jam...

    ReplyDelete
  5. I can't believe that there isn't technology out there to disable texting in cars. Hard on the passengers but it just might save lives. Good post, Tanya. Keen eye!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I don't even like talking on the phone and driving! Good blog with the photo.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hopefully Mom, they know better. Everything can wait.

    ReplyDelete
  8. We have so much snow, for that reason I could use such a monster truck...

    egbert

    ReplyDelete
  9. It is illegal to use your phone at all while driving in Ontario. But I still see lots of people on the road with phones glued to their ears. I don't know how anyone can type and read while driving. :S

    ReplyDelete
  10. Texting and driving + using your phone at all and driving = WRONG!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I hope kids are learning this lesson (on time and not the hard way). The other day I saw a pre-teen texting while riding on a skateboard. Yikes!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh Tanya this is a sad thing there have been many deaths here in Canada also from this stupid need to be in contact with others. Put the phone in the back seat your friends will wait. Good reminder post.My heart goes out to all effected by this texting thing. B

    ReplyDelete
  13. It really is a scary thing - more technology can make things less safe! I've not tried texting while driving (not long enough stops in a small town), though I think there is a push to make it illegal.

    ReplyDelete
  14. It really is a serious problem- I see drivers doing it all the time. I've also noticed a lot of folks waiting at stop lights who were texting. Then they miss the light which angers the people behind them.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh man! Texting while driving worries me SO much. People completely zone out, and forget they are in the car.

    I have seen the gas pumps. Do you mean the two gas pumps in a field with a cool old sign? LOVE that!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I see it all the time...

    ReplyDelete
  17. This is my pet peeve. It makes me so mad that people text and drive! I don't even TALK on the cell phone and drive unless I'm in the truck where it's hooked up to something on the dash board and I don't have to do anything but speak. People are taking their lives in their hands and they are taking mine and my loved ones in their hands too! Kelly promised me that when she gets her license in June, she'll put her cell phone in the back seat so she's not tempted. It IS tempting! One time I was in the truck without that dash board thingy and I'd just left the house and Kelly was texting me for something. I have to say, I was dying to glance over and see what she was saying. But every time it "rang," I forced myself to pull over before I looked at it. It took some time and I was in a rush but I'm stubborn that way. I want to stay alive.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Nothing irks me more than seeing someone behind the wheel of a vehicle with a cell phone in their hand.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anything that takes your attention from the road has the potential to be fatal. No message, hamburger, makeup application, CD, radio station, etc. is worth your life!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Fabulous message, Tanya! I hope more and more kids are listening to the warnings...adults too. I never use my phone at all unless I pull over.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Great post, Tanya. Not to worry - I''m sure your babies are as smart as you are.

    ReplyDelete

Hi! I'm so happy you've stopped by and always enjoy your comments :)