Save a life, don't text and drive

  • Published
  • By Ms. Jasmine Yohman
  • 17th Training Wing Safety
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas-- --  Texting has become an inherent feature of new cell phones. This feature adds serious safety concerns when it comes to driving.

Texting while driving impairs your ability to concentrate and causes long periods of distraction from the road that can lead to a deadly accident. Distracted driving is the number one leading cause for automobile accidents in the United States.

According to the International Association for the Wireless Telecommunications Industry, texting has increased tenfold in the last three years. That means there are more people texting and most likely more people texting while driving.

There are some steps you can take against texting while driving that can help improve your safety while on the road. The first safety precaution you can take is don't text and drive. No text message is worth putting your life or others lives in danger.

According to a study performed by Virginia Tech's Transportation Institute, texting while driving increases the risk of an accident by 23 times.

Pull over to the side of the road or wait until you reach your destination before looking and responding to a text message. Remember, even if you are just looking at a text, you still have a greater chance of being in an accident.

The easiest way to not text and drive is to either turn your cell phone off or put it somewhere where it cannot be reached like the glove compartment or trunk. You can also obtain applications on phones that automatically disable the texting feature while the vehicle is in motion.

Do not allow your friends or family to text while driving. Ask if they want you to text for them or have them turn off their cell phone. As a passenger, you have the right to protect your safety. As a parent, you should make it a non-negotiable rule for your children not to text and drive.

Remember, leading by example shows that you can follow your own rule and it will have greater impact on your child's decision not to text and drive when you aren't there to watch.

According the Texas Department of Public Safety, it is illegal to drive while using a wireless communication device until one year after receiving a driver's license. This is a relatively new law and parents of teens need to be aware of it.

The bottom line is, never text and drive.