The "dnt txt & drv" program, which translates to "don’t text and drive" in the texting world, is being promoted throughout high schools in Charlotte, North Carolina (NC). It’s important to raise awareness with young individuals about the risks associated with distracted driving since roughly half of the people who admit to texting while driving are adolescents, according to the National Center for Children in Poverty.
New laws restricting texting and driving were implemented in North Carolina (NC) but are routinely ignored by young drivers. This is extremely alarming since studies have revealed that texting and driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving. The chances of getting into a car accident increase 23 fold if you text and drive.
One of the components of the “dnt txt & drv” program is allowing teens who are striving for their driver’s license to drive a golf cart while texting to show how distracted and dangerous is truly is.
"I thought I was going to be able to do it," said Brianna Jordan, a Mount Pleasant High School senior, according to thestate.com. "It was really hard."
She wound up colliding with parking cones. Just imagine if it was another car. The potential for serious injury from a major car wreck increases exponentially. You could wind up suffering broken bones, facial lacerations, and/or a traumatic brain injury.
Here is a video illustrating the dangers of texting and driving…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAlLZD2LrC8
Our firm is greatly concerned with the dangers of distracted driving. In fact, we wrote a special, in-depth consumer report on the subject. Take advantage of the free download here.
The “dnt txt & drv” program is very promising and is targeting the right demographic. Though, stiffer penalties for texting while driving citations would also be a good deterrent. Currently, a driver can receive a $100 fine for texting behind the wheel, but no points are assigned to their driver’s license. I would strip that loophole and make texting while driving laws just as stringent as drunk driving laws. If the studies are true and texting while driving is as dangerous as drunk driving, then the penalties should be on par.
About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm (NC-VA law offices ) edits the injury law blogs Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard, Virginia Beach Injuryboard, and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono service to consumers.
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