Driver Causes Fatal Wreck While Texting On Cellphone
Here's a somber reminder of why it's important to pay attention to the road while driving.
A California woman was driving along a highway at 66 miles per hour when she crashed in to a line of cars stopped by a construction zone. Why didn't she see the line of cars stopped ahead of her? Because she was too busy sending text messages from her cell phone.
Many states and provinces in North America have banned talking on cell phones without a hands-free device while driving. Some states are going a step further, banning use of a cell phone while driving altogether. But fewer states and municipalities have banned texting while driving. Some are getting wise to this major and dangerous distraction, with Washington State leading the way.
A 2006 University of Utah study found that people driving while talking on a cell phone were as impaired as if they were driving with a 0.08 percent blood-alcohol level. Another 2006 study by Liberty Mutual Insurance Group and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) found that instant and text messaging while driving leads the list as the biggest distraction while driving for teens.
From Textually.org.
Related links:
- CellCoach Annoys Teenage Drivers Until They Get Off the Phone
- Teen Imprisoned for TXTing While Driving
- Text Messaging to Blame in Teen's Car Wreck?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jamie @ Feb 13th 2008 4:24PM
truck drivers have been bitching about this for years
A. Nonymous @ Feb 13th 2008 5:27PM
Is this texting while driving THAT important that it just can't wait, or, I'll miss my deadline? and then, driving 66 miles per hour and plowing into a line of stopped vehicles in a construction zone and killing someone... I sure hope that text message was worth it!
I hope more states follow West Virginia's lead and implementing $1,000 minimum fine for speeding, and take it a step further, by implementing $1,000 minimum fine for any and all violations incurred by the vehicle owner, and keep increasing these fines for repeat offenders.
My condolences to the friends and family who lost a loved one by this idiot who had to get this text message sent.
mike @ Feb 14th 2008 11:08AM
Forget paying a fine, thats not a big enough deterrent for some people. Texting while driving should have a minimum sentence of one night in jail. Sadly, I've seen people who are drunk drive better than texters. And at least with talking on the cell phone you could keep your eyes on the road. It might be just me but texting seems like a major offense that should require jail-time.
:) @ Feb 17th 2008 7:07PM
omg, hi peoples!
Lori @ Feb 24th 2008 2:56PM
I agree - this is a pet peeve of mine- I see them texting, talking without any regard what is going on around them. I beep, they don't even hear me. GET THEM OFF THE ROAD NOW.
STEVIE @ Feb 25th 2008 8:31PM
THEY NEED TO FINE PEOPLE AS THOUGH THEY ARE DWI OFFENSES.HERE IN NY PEOPLE ARE DRIVING, TEXTING,AND IVE SEEN PEOPLE NEARLY RUNNING OVER PEOPLE AND INTO THINGS BY PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO THOSE CELL PHONES.THIS HAS TO STOP BEFORE MORE LIVES ARE LOST FOR NOTHING
Pauline @ Feb 25th 2008 10:07PM
what the H--is wrong with lawmakers? Talking on the cell phone while driving is bad enough, but text-messaging!! PLEASE!!The drivers that cause accidents and death should be charged with manslaughter.
KELLY @ Mar 14th 2008 3:03PM
TEXTING AND DRIVING IS LIKE DRINKING AND DRIVING DRUNK, YOUR MIND LOOSE FOCUS, BECAUSE YOUR CONCENTRATING ON TEXTING.
KELLY
MYKE @ Mar 19th 2008 9:23PM
THE MOST SENSIBLE THING TO DO IS PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DA
Ann @ Mar 19th 2008 9:51PM
I so can not believe that legislature has to waist time making a LAW to ban TEXT MESSAGING while DRIVING. Some people really are morons!
Cindy @ Mar 19th 2008 11:23PM
The whole judicial system is a joke. My nephew
was killed by a drunk driver which blew a .13
at the station and he only did 1 nite in jail. He hired a big time lawyer and walked on the deal. The DA told us you have to be twice over
the legal limit to be charged with a manslaughter. So he just got a fine and walked.
Noixx @ Mar 20th 2008 12:05AM
"(Students Against Destructive Decisions)"
hmmmm, now that's a newer program... Not a bad idea,mabey it will prevent more than this text messaging on the road. What about officers in squad cars, do they type and drive???? OR does the computer go on lock when they put the vehicle into the drive position? My point is this, unless your a civil officer, and have business that requires you to text message, ask your phone service provider if a headset and/or answering service is available for your phone, or a voice and or speakerphone option, so hands free service is available. Then you should be able to talk and drive, or spell and drive. If that service isn't available, or not currently on the market for purchase, go to college and get a degree and figure out how to make that a possible option for people, if you are going to gripe about it. People are going to do as they choose and or as life mandates.
Corey @ Mar 20th 2008 12:54AM
PUT THE STUPID CELL PHONE DOWN AND LEARN HOW TO DRIVE. IF YOU KILL SOMEBODY WHILE ON IT THEN YOU SHOULD FACE THE DEATH PENALTY. THANK-YOU ANYBODY DISAGREE????
Patrick Singer @ Mar 20th 2008 10:14AM
I saw a teenager a few months ago drive right thru a stop sign coming from a side street and I noticed that she was talking and/or texting on her cell phone and she could not have cared less if she had run over a small child or into another car(she didn't but that is beside my point)Charge the kiddies a $300 flat monthly fee for their cell phone usage and they will cut back asap!
An @ Mar 21st 2008 1:22PM
it's a shame that government has to legislate this point. People just don't have the common sense not to text while driving......
Harold Fisher @ Mar 21st 2008 4:30PM
Make it a law you can't use your sell phone or hands free at all.