The Tri-Lite

Issue date: 4/2/09 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Julie Ivers

You're speeding down Frankford Avenue, a main, busy street in Philadelphia, your cell phone rings, signaling you that have just received a text message. Without even thinking, you remove your hand from the wheel, reach into your pocket, and grab your phone. With one hand on the wheel, you flip it open, read the funny joke your friend sent you, as your car swerves into the left lane. You reply with a quick "lol," while speeding past that stop sign. Does this sound familiar? If so, you and 50% of other young drivers between the age of 18 - 25 have been distracted by a text message sometime while driving, according to American Automobile Association (AAA).

Although speed is a major contributor to car accidents, so are road rage, drinking, and drugs. The blaring radio, eating food, and the overcrowding of a vehicle also contribute to car crashes. Research reveals that cell phones and text messaging are major distractions and a cause of road collisions for drivers aged 18 - 25, or synonymously, college students. More than 80% of teen drivers own a cell phone, and out of that percentage, more than half, 43% admit to reading text messages while driving (AAA research, 2007). The number rises as more young drivers hit the road each year.

A study done by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and State Farm Insurance showed that even though alcohol-related teenage deaths have decreased, the overall death toll has not changed. CHOP and State Farm believe modern technology - cell phones, mp3s, and CDs - are to blame.

As more people substitute phone calls for text messages, safety concerns are rising, and seven states, such as Alaska, Minnesota, and New Jersey, ban the sending of messages while behind the wheel. As of February 12, 2009, 34 states have legislation to ban texting for all drivers, no matter the age (AAA). New Jersey police can now slap drivers with a $100 fine for talking or texting, hoping to discourage the urge to use the hand-held device. Police look out for the "cell-phone weave," according to Pam Fischer, director of New Jersey's Division of Highway Traffic Safety.

According to a National Transportation Safety Administration (NTSA) study, cell phones are the "No. 1 distraction for drivers," whether drivers are making phone calls or texting. Pennsylvania legislature has contemplated the idea of following many other states and banning drivers from using their phones while operating a vehicle. However, despite safety concerns, there has been much push-back from residents, media personal, and government officials.

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