10/22/2015 - By Ella Kimbrel

Did you  know that, in 2011, at least 23% of auto collisions involved cell phones?  That’s 1.3 million crashes!  In 5 seconds, travelling at 55 mph, you’ll drive the length of a football field. Imagine taking your eyes off the road just for a few seconds to look at your phone and traveling that distance! Amazing!  If you’re texting while driving, you’re chances of a crash are 23 times more likely; if you’re dialing, make that 2.8 times more; talking or listening 1.3 times more and finally, reaching for your phone increases your crash chances 1.4 times.

And what about our kids?  Did you know that 48% of young drivers have seen their parents drive while talking on a cell phone? And 15% of young drivers have seen their parents text while driving.  And how about this? 48% of kids age 12 to 17 have been in a car while the driver (not necessarily their parent) is texting.  Lastly, 27% of adults have sent or received text messages while driving.  If adults do it, kids think they can too!

So what can we do about it?  Stop texting and driving!  Use the hands free mode while talking on our cell phones and driving.  And if you didn’t know, 10 states prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones, 32 states prohibit novice drivers from cell phone use and 39 states prohibit all drivers from text messaging.

In closing, for the sake of your loved ones, please don’t drive while intexticated.  There’s no one else out there like you who could ever take your place.