Texting While Driving Can Be Deadly for Teens During the Holidays

New Stats Put Spotlight on the Dangers of Cell Phone Usage While Behind the Wheel

I was listening to our local sports talk show this morning on the way to work in Birmingham, Alabama, Jox945.  A caller to the Morning Drive Show recited some staggering and alarming stats which he had gleaned from an insurance industry watchdog organization.  The stats concerned the dangers of texting while driving and the caller wanted to relay the info to the Jox945 audience particularly addressing his comments to parents whose children are now out of school for their holiday break.

The caller was referencing an automobile accident in nearby Trussville, a Birmingham suburb, which occurred 18 months ago.  Four teenage girls were fatally injured in the wreck.  Evidence eventually emerged which pointed to the driver of at least one of the vehicles involved in the two-car accident having been texting while driving. 

With that as a background, the caller went on to report that drivers are 23 times more likely to die while texting than if they were two times over the limit for driving while under the influence of alcohol.  You don’t often hear the airwaves on a sports talk show turn somber, but that is exactly what happened when that statistic was announced. 

It brought to mind the number of NSR client student-athletes who will be out on the road over the next two weeks.  Traffic will be heavier than normal, but so will texting.  We implore all parents to encourage their children to turn their cell phones off while driving and to only text or talk on their cell phones when their feet are on the ground.  And, we plead with all teenagers to take their own responsible measures to avoid texting or talking on their cell phones when they are behind the wheel.  No text or conversation is worth the cost of an accident, injury or loss of life.