Letters to the editor -
Dear editor,
Texting is very popular nowadays, especially at the wheel?
Do you think this is right?
Are you willing to take that risk?
Approximately 56 per cent of teenagers admit to talking on their cell phones behind the wheel, while 13 per cent admit to texting while driving.
Talking on a cell phone while driving can make a young driver's reaction time much slower than it would be when you are fully alert without any distractions.
In 2007, driver distractions, such as using a cell phone or text messaging, contributed to nearly 1,000 crashes involving 16 and 17-year-old American drivers.
Each year, 21 per cent of fatal car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 are the result of cell phone usage. This result has been expected to grow as much as four per cent every year. "Teens say that texting is their number one driver distraction," according to Teen Driver Cell Phone and Texting Statistics, www.edgarsnyder.com, 2010. Personally, I think hand-held cell phone use while driving is wrong.
Many advertisers are trying to get people to use hands-free cell phone accessories, instead of the standard hand-held cell phone. For example, Smart Risk, is especially promoting the use of cell phones while driving as wrong.
I personally think this the right thing to do. Transport Canada recommends against the use of cell phones. They also revealed during an observation period, that more than one in 10 drivers were observed using a cell phone.
There is no safe time for distractions while driving. The use of cell phones, and other distractions, impairs the driver's ability to safely control their vehicle and effectively monitor and respond to events occurring in the road traffic environment.
So please consider what I have written and avoid this risky activity.
Robbie Taylor,
Bay Roberts
