Griffin Johnston, 4th period, New York makes provisions to solve texting and driving

            In an article on FoxNews.com the Associated Press reports on the State of New York giving 32 tall, unmarked SUV’s for the purpose of catching drivers using hand held devices. This along with the steeper penalties for using handheld devices and the “Texting Zones” on various highways portrays the states’ stricter policies regarding the use of cell phones while driving. According to the article, 41 states have banned texting and driving and 12 have outlawed hand-held cell phones in general. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that more than 3,300 people died and 421,000 people were injured in car accidents due to “distracted driving” in the previous year. A study from Virginia tech discovered that texting while driving makes a person 23 times more likely to be in a wreck.  Another study (not in this article) found that texting while driving is more hazardous than driving while intoxicated.

            Texting while driving is not only a problem, it is a temptation in which a multitude of people, including myself, has succumbed to. Though most people do not think this way when they are using their phone while driving, texting while driving puts your well-being and life as well as other’s lives in jeopardy. If an urgent, emergency situation were to arise while driving, and one is not able to pull over, the best way to deal with the situation is by talking with that person using speaker phone. Texting has its benefits and there are situations where it is appropriate, however, talking to that person face to face, or at least over the phone, is usually the best way of communication. Taking into consideration that most text message conversations concern matters that are usually minor in our lives as a whole, it is on the border of selfishness when one texts and drives. They are putting their social lives ahead of the safety of not only other drivers and pedestrians, but also their own safety. The multiple provision that the state of New York has taken in response to increased texting (and use of handheld cell phones) while driving are positive steps toward solving this problem.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/11/25/ny-state-troopers-using-big-suvs-to-crack-down-on-texting-and-driving/?intcmp=obnetwork