What makes people think it’s ok to text and drive? It is not OK or acceptable, yet I witness numerous people texting and driving everyday. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration …
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What makes people think it’s ok to text and drive? It is not OK or acceptable, yet I witness numerous people texting and driving everyday. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2010 driver distraction was the cause of 18 percent of all fatal crashes – with 3,092 people killed – and crashes resulting in an injury – with 416,000 people wounded. Distracted driving endangers life and property. Here are some facts: 1) Five seconds is the average time that your eyes are off the road while texting. At 55 mph, this is enough time to cover the length of a football field. 2) A texting driver is 23 times more likely to have a collision than a non-texting driver. Of those killed in distracted-driving related crashes, 995 involved cell phone use. 3) The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers is the under-20 age group. 4) The penalty for a violation of the NYS law for texting and driving is a fine of up to $150plus mandatory surcharges and fees of up to $85 and three driver violation points.