According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), distracted driving has become common, leading to dangerous traffic crashes and even causing fatalities. Statistics signal that the increased use of mobile devices while driving is to blame for a significant number of distracted driving accidents.
TxDOT reports that nearly one in four accidents involve driver distraction. In 2009, more than 100,000 vehicles were involved in accidents where driver inattention or cellphone use was cited. Moreover, some 400-plus of those accidents resulted in the loss of life. To curtail this deadly trend, Irving Judges Rodney Adams and Laura Anderson are launching a citywide campaign in an effort to send the following message to North Texas motorists: Talk, Text, Crash.
“We want to encourage those who send text messages while driving to be concerned with their own lives as well as the safety of other motorists,” said Adams. “The message we’re sending to the Irving community is that there’s no text or phone call as important as a human life.”
As part of the campaign, these Irving judges are asking motorists to consider updating the outgoing messages on their voicemail systems to say something to the effect of, “Sorry, I’m not available for conversation at this time because I’m away from the phone or driving. Please leave a message and I will return your call at my earliest and safest opportunity.”
Additional tips for safer driving include the following:
- Place mobile phones out of reach or inside the car console while driving.
- Pull to the side of the road to check voicemail, text messages or make calls.
- Model safe driving in front of young drivers.
Research shows that the reaction time of texting motorists doubles when on the road, making it less likely that the distracted driver will be able to respond to traffic signals and roadway dangers such as slowing traffic or pedestrians. Judges also note that eating, smoking, manipulating dashboard controls or reaching for something in the vehicle also are examples of distracted driving.
“Although the state has not enacted legislation to prohibit distracted driving acts such as texting, we shouldn’t have to wait on a law to do the right thing,” said Anderson. “One hundred percent of reported distracted driving fatalities are preventable, but the truth is one life lost due to a phone call or a text message is just one too many.”
