According to a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission 20 percent of all car crashes are the result of texting while driving. If nothing is done to put a firm stop to this, that statistic will increase, especially thanks to young and careless drivers on the road, much like myself. Although texting while driving is the overall focus, distracted driving which includes doing anything besides focusing on the road, is also a present danger.
On TxtResponsibly.org, there are testimonials from individuals who have experienced first hand the dangers of distracted driving. A touching video by AT&T shows just how dangerous it can be for not only the driver, but innocent bystanders, because you are not only hurting yourself, but you can hurt others. So many drivers, especially young drivers, like myself, think that they are invincible and that they can handle anything while driving, when in all reality, they cannot. There is never a time when someone can say that it was absolutely necessary to have their phone in one hand and their steering wheel in the other.
There are billboards on main roads, television and radio commercials about the dangers of this growing problem. Even Oprah Winfrey has taken a stand against texting while driving. On her website, Oprah.com individuals can sign a pledge to promise themselves and their community that they will never again text and drive. To date there have been over 400,000 drivers who have signed her “No Phone Zone” pledge.
Texting while driving is a danger that can be prevented and I hope that this epidemic will soon stop. Paying attention to the road should be the sole responsibility of a driver. By being proactive in putting an end to texting while driving, such as signing Oprah’s pledge, we can fix the damage others have caused. There is a simple answer to this problem: do not text and drive because just as quickly as you can send a text message, you can put someone else’s life in danger.
