Britney Jones, Whitney McGee, Zoe Rojas ENG 1023.02 Dr. Busl

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Stop the txts, Stop the wrecks

In today’s world cell phones have become very popular yet distracting. Cell phones are no longer helpful devices; they are now an addiction. Licensed drivers are so attached to their cellular devices that they are now even driving while on their phones. This attachment has led drivers to text while driving which has caused many accidents and deaths throughout the United States.

According to the National Safety Council, in the U.S. texting while driving annually causes 1.6 million accidents. The University of North Texas Health Science Center undertook a study about fatality reports and found 16,141 deaths attributed to texting while driving. On July 30,2013 an eight month old infant was killed by a bus driver who was distracted by using his cell phone while driving. Although you may feel that social media and surfing the web is not a part of texting while driving, it is still considered a distraction and illegal in certain states.

Despite the media’s messages to convince drivers to stop texting while driving, the situation has not improved. Many people are dying throughout the years, losing loved ones, and are emotionally distraught from texting while driving incidents. It is not only the victims who suffer from this preventable crime, but also the victim’s family members. The solution starts with you. Here is what you can do to put an end to texting while driving: have your phone out of sight out of mind, on silent, or have a designated person to text for you. By following these solutions you are minimizing the probability of having an accident and/or taking someone else’s life.

<?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" />

“By signing this petition, I promise to stop/ not text while driving.”