Driving Text?

There are about 354 billion text messages sent every year across America. Teenagers send the most text messages when compared to all other age groups. I know a lot of people, myself included, that send text messages while they drive. Most states began enforcing "hands-free" laws which prohibit the use of communication via cellular devices while driving, drivers are sending text messages to maintain the ability to communicate with their peers. However, nobody seems to pause to realize how dangerous it is to drive while sending text messages. In 2007, an estimated 12,998 people died in alcohol-impaired traffic collision, which involved a driver with an illegal Alchol level (.08 or greater). There were 41,059 total traffic fatalities in 2007, so these deaths constituted approximately 32% of the total traffic fatalities in 2007.

ABC News released this photo of a man sending text messages
while driving. Either hold the steering wheel, or don't drive!

The Transport Research Laboratory (U.K.) found that when people were sending text messages, while driving had their reaction speed reduced by 35%, which increases the chances of a crash. The research Lab tested drivers that were under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, and found that those that were drinking and driving suffered a 12% loss of reaction speed, and those that were driving under the influence of marijuana had their reaction speed reduced by 21%. Despite all the advertisements on highways, and on televisions saying "you drink, you drive, you lose.", nobody thinks about the effects of sending text messages while driving. Next time you are driving and your friend texts you asking where you are, think twice about sending a text in response. Wait until you reach your destination or at least at a stoplight, "driving text" decreases your reaction speeds by over 35%, almost 3 times as slow as those impaired by alcohol. It may seem silly, but, sending text messages while driving is proven to reduce the reaction speeds of drivers. Is it time for the creation of laws that would outlaw the use of cell phones to send text messages while driving?