According to Distraction.gov, a Government website for distracted driving, texting or talking on a cell phone while driving is a dangerous epidemic on roadways across the globe.
In 2009 alone, nearly 5,474 people were killed and 450,000 more were injured in distracted driving crashes.
Nearly 5,500 people were killed on America's roadways in 2009 alone. Another 448,000 more were injured. Teen drivers are more likely to be involved in a fatal crash. Sixteen percent of the fatal accidents reported in 2009 were reported as teen-related.
In the month of June 2011 alone, more than 196 billion text messages were sent or received in the US. Teen drivers are more likely to be involved in a fatal crash where the use of a cell phone is involved.
According to The University of Utah, using a cell phone while driving - whether it's hand-held or hands-free - delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent.
Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37%, reports Carnegie Melon.
Statistic such as these should not be taken lightly. One driver killed by senseless text messaging should be enough to reconsider alternatives to tickets.
One technology I read about recently is banned in most countries around the world. The United States Cell Phone Jammer Ban is covered under The Communications Act of 1934.
In December 2004, France legalized cell-phone jammers in places with performances or where cell phones would be considered a public nuisance. France is finalizing technology that will let calls to emergency services go through. This would eliminate the concerns of those drivers who fear they may not be able to reach a 911 operator in an emergency. Certainly, the technology allows for the device to only activate if the vehicle is in drive.
Until the technology is advanced enough to eliminate 911 fears, and designed not to interfere with any other device other than a cell phone within 5 feet of the vehicle, don't count on seeing this technology to stop texting fatalities, anytime soon.
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