Scaring young drivers into putting down their cell phones

[Jazzy]

The last time 19-year-old Liz Marks texted while driving she almost died.

"I slammed into a flatbed tow truck that was fully stopped in my lane," Marks said.

Was she driving distracted as it's called?

"Yes, I was texting and driving," Marks said.

She suffered a traumatic brain injury, a fractured skull and a collapsed lung.

The accident happened in 2012 and according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, that year more than 3,300 people nationwide were killed and about 420,000 injured in distracted-driving related crashes.

Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx is launching a campaign to combat a growing trend.

But why now and has it taken too long?

"It's because people think they can take a second or two off the road," he said. "And what we have to do is constantly remind people."

They will do that with a series of graphic ads that will begin airing next week.

In 43 states and the District of Columbia, texting while driving is against the law.

The last text Marks received before her accident came from her mother, Betty.

"And it was me," she said. "That was the last text that was open. She was reading my text. I almost lost my little girl over a stupid text."

The national campaign will cost about $9 million.

Source

The only thing that's going to stop anyone from texting while driving is to somehow make the cell phones totally useless while inside a vehicle. We all know that's impossible but perhaps that $9 million dollars could be used to figure out a way to do it.

What do you think and have you ever sent text messages while driving?

 

[Evil Eye]

Not impossible, just not going to happen. There are numerous legitimate reasons to use a cell phone inside a car.

Regardless, driving and texting is stupid. Deadly stupid.

 

[Nebulous]

have you ever sent text messages while driving?

I have but usually at stop lights. I don't do it these days though. They can wait.

 

[Raven]

Only when the car is stopped at lights or in a jam. Never while driving. Actually the majorly of people on theyre phones I see are older people not youngsters.

 

[DrLeftover]

.... for Texting While Driving.