The dangers of texting while driving have been all over the news over the past few years. A majority of states, including California, have passed legislation banning the use of texting while driving. For many older drivers, the bans seem reasonable and complying is easy. The truth is that while older drivers may have learned the art of texting, they did not grow up in a texting world and therefore are not attached to texting as a primary form of communication. For younger drivers, however, texting is a way of life. Texting has replaced writing, e-mailing and even talking for the younger generation. Texting has even spawned a new language. Just ask someone under the age of 30 what “omg”, “lol” or “btw” means and they will know. Younger Americans are as attached to their telephones as they are their cars. Unfortunately, that can create serious hazards for everyone on the road.
Using a hand held device of any kind while driving can be dangerous but texting is particularly dangerous. Although many young people can create and send a text message with lightening speed, even they cannot accomplish this task without taking their eyes off the road for a few crucial seconds. Studies show that writing and sending a text message takes the average person about four seconds. Four seconds may not sound like a significant amount of time but when you count it out it is a surprisingly long amount of time to have your eyes off the road if you are driving. Even assuming that the younger generation is faster than the average person, even taking your eyes off the road for two seconds can be the difference between life and death. By their very nature, accidents do not give the victims much warning. When traveling at a normal highway speed, you can come upon an obstacle in the road and only have a split second to react to avoid hitting it. If the driver in front of you slams on her brakes for any reason, you usually have less than four seconds to react and stop. If a driver is reading, creating or sending a text message then valuable seconds are lost that should be used to react and prevent the accident.
Cellular telephones are not going anywhere. They have become a ubiquitous part of life in America. Texting, has also become the preferred form of communicating for the younger generation. While there may be no turning back the clock on either of those facts, educating the texting generation about the dangers of texting while driving has become crucial. The chance of being involved in an accident grows exponentially when the driver is texting while driving. A text message is simply not worth someone’s life.
If you believe that you have been the victim of a texting driver and have suffered injuries as a result, you may be entitled to compensation. For a free and detailed evaluation of your California personal injury accident case, please contact attorney Emery Ledger of Ledger & Associates by visiting him online at www.ledgerlaw.com or by calling 1-800-300-0001.
