Cell Phones, Texting and Driving

..... a deadly combination!
A very disturbing video has just been released as a public service announcement on YouTube. 
It graphically illustrates what can happen when a person is texting while driving.  You'll find it at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ttNgZDZruI

As cell phone usage has grown - and who doesn't have one these days - there has been a corresponing increase in the use of them while driving.  Those of us who are guilty of this offense should realize that one of the greatest dangers is that we must take our eyes off the road to dial a number.  We may also find ourselves less likely to employ defensive driving skills when we are preoccupied with a cell phone conversation.  Although we may take pride in our ability to "multi-task," some of us find it a struggle to just chew gum and walk at the same time!
One survey showed that 83% of drivers talk on cell phones while driving.  Cell phone use is highest among young drivers.  And speaking of young drivers - text messaging, or "texting," is by far their greatest distraction, and nearly 20 percent of all drivers admit to texting while driving.  One study has shown that motorists using cell phones are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves.  Another concluded that "talking on a cell phone while driving is as dangerous as driving drunk, even if the phone is a hands-free model." Yet another study found that drivers using hands-free phones were 18 percent slower in braking and took 17 percent longer to regain the speed they lost when they braked.
Some states have already passed laws prohibiting drivers from using hand-held cell phones and that number is growing.  Although there has been some talk of limiting insurance coverage for auto accidents involving cell phone use, we're not aware of any U.S. company that has added this restriction to its policies. (Drivers in at least two European countries can lose insurance coverage if they are involved in a crash while talking on the phone.)
The bottom line: Any distraction will increase your likelihood of having an accident....and cell phones are becoming one of the major driving distractions we face.  Don't be lulled into a false sense of security just because you have a Bluetooth headset......hands-free phone usage is still a major distraction.  Keep your eyes on the road and your phone in your pocket or purse.