|
|
|
Eastern Jackson County, MO —
Josh Miller admits that he has used text messaging while driving in his car.
Only, he said, when he is at a stoplight and not “driving down Interstate 70.” Still, the senior at Fort Osage High School sees the danger in it and limits the action as often as possible.
“I read somewhere that text messaging increases the amount of time you are looking off the road by 400 percent,” he said. “No text message I send or receive is worth someone else’s life.”
In the last few years, the use of text messaging has taken off. According to the CTIA, the international association for the wireless telecommunications industry, one trillion text messages were sent last year compared to only 81 billion in 2005. But text messaging is not only happening while at home, work or even school. It is happening behind the wheel of a car.
So in an effort to persuade people, specifically teenagers, not to text while driving, a new Missouri law went into effect Friday making it illegal to drive while texting. The law prohibits anyone 21 years old or younger from sending, reading or writing an electronic message while driving.
“We address texting while driving in our courses,” said Don Bauml, a driver’s education instructor at MCC-Blue River. “When students see how fast things can happen and how texting makes that reaction time even worse, I think it drives home the point.”
According to a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, distracted driving is the leading cause of traffic crashes not only in Missouri but throughout the United States. As much as 80 percent of all traffic crashes involve some form of distraction to the driver. The study goes onto the say that half of all teenage drivers admit to sending text messages while driving.
Bauml cited an accident in 2007 where five recent high school graduates were killed in traffic accident in New York. It was discovered later that text messages had been sent and received from the 17-year-old driver’s cell phone.
And locally, a Grain Valley High School graduate died in May after overcorrecting on a Kansas highway causing the vehicle to flip over. Police said that she was text messaging at the time of the accident.
The new law makes Missouri the 23rd state to put a ban on texting while driving. The law classifies texting while driving as an infraction, punishable by a fine of up to $200.
Josh Miller admits that he has used text messaging while driving in his car.
Only, he said, when he is at a stoplight and not “driving down Interstate 70.” Still, the senior at Fort Osage High School sees the danger in it and limits the action as often as possible.
“I read somewhere that text messaging increases the amount of time you are looking off the road by 400 percent,” he said. “No text message I send or receive is worth someone else’s life.”
In the last few years, the use of text messaging has taken off. According to the CTIA, the international association for the wireless telecommunications industry, one trillion text messages were sent last year compared to only 81 billion in 2005. But text messaging is not only happening while at home, work or even school. It is happening behind the wheel of a car.
So in an effort to persuade people, specifically teenagers, not to text while driving, a new Missouri law went into effect Friday making it illegal to drive while texting. The law prohibits anyone 21 years old or younger from sending, reading or writing an electronic message while driving.
“We address texting while driving in our courses,” said Don Bauml, a driver’s education instructor at MCC-Blue River. “When students see how fast things can happen and how texting makes that reaction time even worse, I think it drives home the point.”
According to a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, distracted driving is the leading cause of traffic crashes not only in Missouri but throughout the United States. As much as 80 percent of all traffic crashes involve some form of distraction to the driver. The study goes onto the say that half of all teenage drivers admit to sending text messages while driving.
Bauml cited an accident in 2007 where five recent high school graduates were killed in traffic accident in New York. It was discovered later that text messages had been sent and received from the 17-year-old driver’s cell phone.
And locally, a Grain Valley High School graduate died in May after overcorrecting on a Kansas highway causing the vehicle to flip over. Police said that she was text messaging at the time of the accident.
The new law makes Missouri the 23rd state to put a ban on texting while driving. The law classifies texting while driving as an infraction, punishable by a fine of up to $200.
In addition, because it is considered a moving violation, it is punishable by an assessment of points on the driver’s license. A similar law will take effect in Kansas starting in January.
“I think it is good that they are making this (texting) illegal,” said 17-year-old Melissa Inestroza, Independence. “It impairs driving as much as alcohol. And if you are texting, how fast will you really be able to react while driving?”
Detective Troy Pharr of the Blue Springs Police Department said he believes this law is good and not just for teenagers.
“No. 1 safety, No. 2 safety and No. 3 safety, especially when you are a new driver,” he said. “It is hard enough to drive as it is and to be aware of everything going on around you. Then to add texting to that, it would be almost impossible. If you are driving, then drive, whatever your age.”
However, Pharr said enforcing the law could be difficult as it was when the seat belt law became effective.
Though drivers can be stopped simply for texting, many believe that it will work similar to that of the seat belt law – drivers are stopped for another violation and a fine will also be given for not wearing the seat belt.
“It won’t be the easiest thing to enforce,” he said. “But if I see some young driver heading down the road holding a phone in one hand, then it is definitely an enforceable action.”
Some believe the law should include everyone, not just those under 21.
“I don’t think teens are the only ones who text,” Bauml said. “Adults do it as well. It is an extremely distracting practice while driving, and it should include everyone.”
Miller agrees. He said only making the law applicable to those 21 years old and younger is “age discrimination.” In addition, Miller said he believes that adults are more dangerous behind the wheel while texting than teenagers.
“I believe young people are far more proficient at text messaging anywhere without actually looking at the phone,” he said with a smile. “I also think it is silly not to take into account other factors such as operating a GPS device while driving. It’s a good start, but I think they need a more blanket law to cover everyone.”
