Texting and driving is a very complex issue, and action needs to be taken in order to alleviate the problem. Rather than passing laws and increasing law enforcement, we must focus our actions on prevention. If we can prevent drivers from texting and driving, then we can lower the number of drivers who text and drive. Prevention can come in many different forms such as new cell phone technology, but the most compelling and effective strategy is education.
One prevention strategy is to develop new technology for cell phones that will hinder texting while driving. There are cell phone applications available for download that will disable the text messaging feature if the driver is driving over 25 miles per hour. AT&T has sponsored and funded events such as the Hackathon, in an effort to inspire innovative technological solutions that prevent texting and driving.
AT&T’s pledge against texting and driving. Source: AT&T Website
Technology development is a good approach, but realistically, the people who are texting and driving are not likely to utilize the technology if they can avoid it. Therefore, the best approach is through education. While people of all ages admit to texting and driving, the numbers are highest for young drivers. Therefore, it is necessary to teach young drivers about the risks and dangers associated with texting while driving. Even though many high school and college-aged drivers claim they know the hazards associated with texting and driving, they continue to do it. This indicates that young drivers do not fully understand the the dangers tied to texting and driving. Young drivers also often have a mindset that they are invincible and that they would never get into an accident. Bobby Augusto, father of Kimi Augusto explains this mindset,
“Like so many teens, she [Kimi] thought she was bulletproof and that it would never happen to her. She only took her eyes off the road for two seconds…And it cost her her life. One poor decision, just two seconds, and the world will never be the same for any of her friends or family. It is so incredibly painful.” (blogs.att.net/story).
Teenagers must understand the dangers of texting and driving and the impact it could potentially have on those around them before they get behind the wheel. This is why it is imperative to educate drivers about the dangers of texting and driving early, so that good driving habits will be instilled from the very beginning.
The best solution for this would be to make it mandatory for all drivers education programs and traffic schools to teach an entire unit on distracted driving, with a special emphasis on texting while driving. Currently, there is a federal law requiring drivers education programs to teach a unit about driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Research has proven that texting and driving and driving under the influence have similar
A graph comparing texting and driving and drinking and driving. Source: Save Our Teen Drivers Website.
effects on driving ability. In fact, texting and driving is the equivalent to a person driving with a 0.08 blood alcohol level. Texting and driving decreases a drivers’ ability to react, as it involves visual, manual and cognitive distractions, just as alcohol or drugs do. Therefore, it is necessary for programs to devote the same amount of time teaching new drivers about the dangers of texting as they do for driving under the influence. The American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association (ADTSEA) recently revised national drivers’ ed curriculum which includes a unit on distracted driving. However, this curriculum is a guideline for drivers’ education programs, and it is not mandated for them to follow ADTSEA’s curriculum. Education is the best prevention strategy, and is the optimal way to teach young drivers about the risks of texting and driving. If drivers have a better understanding of the consequences of texting and driving, we could potentially save many lives. So contact your legislator today. Tell them we want our drivers to be educated before they hit the road.