OP-ED: Texting while driving: A risk not worth taking
One of our most significant problems on our roads is texting and driving. It is one of the most dangerous things a driver can do. When you text and drive, you take your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, and your mind off driving. Which makes it very easy to crash and hurt yourself or someone else.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving killed 3,275 people in 2023. If you send or read a text, it takes your eyes off the road for approximately five seconds. That’s like driving with your eyes closed at 55 mph the length of a football field. Anything can happen during that time.
According to the Denver Health Medical Plan, nearly 500,000 people are hurt by distracted driver crashes, and a texting driver is 20 times more likely to get into a car crash. Approximately 1 in 4 teens admits to texting while driving. However, young people are not the only ones texting and driving; up to 10% of parents admit they send and receive texts while behind the wheel.
As of June 5, Pennsylvania implemented a new distracted driving law, known as “Paul Miller’s Law.” This law prohibits drivers from using handheld cellphones and other interactive mobile devices while driving, including when stopped at a stoplight or in traffic. This law means drivers must be hands-free only while making calls, using GPS, or listening to music, which includes while stopped at a light or in traffic.
So, how can you stay safe? Put your phone away before you start driving. Please put it in your bag, glove box, or somewhere else you can’t reach it. Put your phone on Do Not Disturb mode while driving, which will temporarily mute your notifications so you won’t be tempted to answer. Ask a passenger to be your designated texter if it is important to answer and they are available. If it’s essential to text or respond, pull over safely and send the message. Lastly, speak up if you are in a car and the driver is texting. Remind them it is not safe and they are putting their lives at risk.
Texting and driving is never worth it. A message can wait; your life can’t.
Let’s keep our roads safe. Stay focused on driving. Drive smart, and put the phone down.
Jennifer Tallerico Metheney of Hopwood is a nurse at a local hospital.