Driving While "Intexticated"

Current statistics show that at least 11 teens die every day as a result of texting while driving. According to a AAA poll, 94% of teen drivers acknowledge the dangers of texting while driving, but 35% admitted to doing it anyway. 21% of teen drivers involved in fatal accidents were distracted by their cell phones, and these are the cases where the teen admitted to being distracted by the phone. Have I done it? Yes. Have you done it? Yes. Does it need to stop? Yes.

The use of cellphones while driving, whether it be for texting, browsing the web or social media is rampant. I did my own extremely unscientific experiment the other day while enjoying my morning walk in downtown Cleveland. At about 8:00AM on a Wednesday morning, I decided that I would observe the next 50 cars that drove by me, to see if they were looking at their phones. Out of the 50 vehicles which I was able to confirm whether or not they were on their phones, 34 of the 50 were on their phone.  THAT IS 68% of the drivers that I saw driving down a busy city street with pedestrians running across the road at any given time. 

Cell phone usage while driving is an epidemic that has serious consequences. When you have a moment, check out the statistics of the dangers of texting while driving at http://www.textinganddrivingsafety.com/texting-and-driving-stats 

No message is important enough to risk your life, and the life of innocent people on the road. Put the phone down please!