To the Editor:
Have you ever been frustrated driving behind a car that is delayed at stoplights, swerving in and out of lanes or traveling below the speed limit? If the answer is yes, how many times have you passed these cars only to see that the driver was texting?
Distracted driving caused by texting is a major problem across all age groups.
Approximately 660,000 drivers across the United States use cell phones while driving daily. According to the National Safety Council, texting and driving causes 1,600,000 accidents per year, which is nearly 25 percent of all car accidents.
This statistic is alarming because these accidents could be easily prevented if drivers were focused on the road and not on their cell phones.
Studies have also shown that drivers who text are six times more likely to cause an accident than driving while intoxicated. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, distracted driving claimed 3,477 lives in 2015 alone.
New drivers need to be educated on the dangers of texting and driving prior to getting their license to prevent becoming another statistic. Most importantly, we need to take initiative ourselves and lead by example by focusing on the road and not our phones.
Every time a driver picks up their cell phone and takes their eyes off the road, they are putting themselves and innocent drivers in harm’s way.
Don’t be another statistic, put down your phone and let’s make our roads safe again!
Brittaney Zupko, YSU SN