Although Missouri and Kansas ban texting only for novice drivers, texting while driving should not be done by ANY drivers. One of the most dangerous practices while driving, texting has become a serious safety concern for drivers today.
Texting is the art of sending a short, 160-character message to another cell phone user without having to call. To send a text, you have to select who is the message recipient and then type in the message. Texting is simple while sitting at home, lounging in bed, or even riding in the back seat. However, when a driver decides to text, he takes his eyes off of the road for several seconds, putting himself at a high safety risk of an accident.
According to the Texting While Driving blog, 30 states have banned texting, and several others have restrictions on texting and cell phone use while operating a vehicle. Texting is one of today’s drivers most common distractions, ranking up there with answering phone calls, multi-tasking and listening to loud music. Because of the growing number of fatal accidents, texting is becoming a growing concern among many lawmakers.
Simply, Put the Phone Down
While we understand the temptation is there, we encourage all of our readers to simply have the discipline to not text and drive. Set your phone down, even turn it on silent, and leave it hidden until you arrive at your destination. Or, if you want to have it available for phone calls, set it in a place where you can reach it, yet not be distracted.
We know that it’s tempting to send a quick text while you’re driving, but it’s not worth jeopardizing your safety, not the safety of your passengers, to send that quick message. Find a way to communicate that doesn’t turn your eyes away from the road, and allows you to stay focused.
For more information about State Texting laws and statistics, visit Texting-While-Driving.org