Texting while driving has recently become a standard issue or heated argument in society due to the dangers it can present for motorists.

Teens are susceptible to this trend because of the popular communication tools and easy access to conversations with friends; however, adults are also known to partake in this dangerous activity.

Drivers send out text messages everyday without a second thought of what lies ahead, which puts not only themselves, but others, at risk. It only take a few seconds, but studies show those who text behind the wheel are 23 times more likely to get into an accident, rather than not texting while driving.

A report by the National Safety Council found that cell phone usage leads to about 1.6 million crashes a year. Of those, about 200,000 of are caused by texting while driving.

Police department cracks down, weighs in on DWT development

Valley officers, sheriff’s deputies and police officers cited drivers during a zero-tolerance campaign from Kern County to the Stanislaus and Mariposa counties. 40 motorists were cited for texting or reading text messages, and about 15 citations were given for other driving violations, including distraction, during the operation, according to the Fresno Bee.

Although driving while intoxicated (DWI) and driving while texting (DWT) are both dangerous, statistics show that more teens are to blame for the ladder since the drivers’ attention is not fully intact. In fact, 46 percent of teens text while driving and seven percent of those texts lead to car crashes that can be fatal.

Officer Pierce Masse, P #1579 NW II Patrol, has responded to many car wreaks during his career, but not many that included DWTs.

“I can tell you from my experience, almost every fatal traffic collision I can remember responding to had alcohol involved in some way.” Masse said. “Although you have probably been hearing it for your whole life, studies which show a link between texting/talking on the cell phone and fatal traffic collisions are relatively new.”

Although many car crashes involve alcohol, accidents are also due to cell phone use and must be reported by responding officers.

“We must mark if a cell phone was used; a ticket for texting while driving costs a minimum of $159.” Masse said. “The reality of that is, it is easy to tell if a driver has been drinking alcohol by having him submit to a breath or blood alcohol test; blood is drawn every time from anyone killed in a traffic collision.”

Aside from blood alcohol tests, Officer Masse has to rely on observations instead of facts because of the lack of evidence left at the crash site.

“There is no blood test to determine whether or not a cell phone was used.” Masse said. “Any information regarding a cell phone will generally come from observations made by witnesses of the traffic collision.”

Last summer, Officer Masse responded to the only fatal traffic collision he has seen where texting was a contributing cause of the collision. He responded to a call of a single vehicle collision in a residential area, with the driver pinned between the asphalt and the entire weight of the car.

“The only part of her [the victim’s] body which was not under the vehicle was her chest, right arm, and head,” Masse said. “After we lifted the car enough to remove the driver, she was immediately transported to the hospital by ambulance. I was told she died while enroute to the hospital due to her injuries.”

The driver was the only person in the vehicle. No one saw the collision, but residents heard the crash and came out later to see the damage.

“After the driver had been removed from the vehicle, I found her cell phone lying on the ground only three feet away from where her body came to rest.” Masse said. “The phone was open, and a partially completed text message was on the screen. It was later discovered she had just been involved in a heated verbal argument with her significant other, stormed out of the house, got into her vehicle and sped off.”

Officer Masse was disturbed by the further evidence, which has claimed many lives.

“As she was driving, they began texting each other,” Masse said. “Based on evidence at the collision, the primary factor which cause the collision was determined to be excessive speed estimated at approximately 45 mph in a 25 mph zone. An associated factor of collision was determined to be the distraction cause by texting on her cell phone.”

Students consider risks, reflect on issue

The Pew Internet and American Life Project conducted a survey about texting while driving and concluded that 27 percent of adult drivers and 26 percent of teens text while driving. This trend is increasingly one of the most common forms of inattentive driving that can prove fatal for the driver and those around them.

A Nationwide survey revealed that 82 percent of Americans over the age of 18 now have a cell phone and 58 percent of them text; about 75 percent of teens have mobile phones and 66 percent have sent texts while driving.

Sophomore Logan Rood, who recently obtained her driving permit, believes texting while driving is dangerous.

“Now that I have my permit I don’t see how people can text and drive at the same time,” Rood said. “Not only is it dangerous but it is really distracting. I’ve heard that you can get into accidents because of texting.”

Although Rood cannot comprehend how drivers text and drive instead of focusing on the road, senior Kory Thompson has almost encountered a crash caused by texting.

“I was texting on my phone while I was driving so I didn’t see this huge truck that was coming my way,” Thompson said. “I realized what could of happened if I didn’t look up, and it scared me, so I defiantly will not text and drive anymore.”

Drivers like senior Bree Ainley have experimented with texting while driving found it troublesome and disturbing.

“I have tried it before, and to me it is really hard so I probably will not do it again, also it is really distracting,” Bree Ainley, 11′, said. “It is really dangerous and I have herd of people getting killed in crashes caused by texting, and I don’t want that to be me.”

For more features, read the April 6 article, Pastoral surroundings distinguish Sanger recreations.

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