Texting and Driving Dangers

May 28, 2013  |  Jon P. Erickson

I recently read an article that stated that “texting is now the leading cause of death for teen drivers.” The article was based on a study done for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The study contains data that supports that texting while driving has become an even greater hazard for teenagers than drinking and driving.
Minnesota law prohibits operating a motor vehicle while “using a wireless communications device to compose, read or send an electronic message while the car is in motion or a part of traffic.” A violation is a misdemeanor crime. This law applies to juveniles as well as adults. Minnesota law also prohibits any driver under age 18 to use a phone for any purpose while driving.
The days between Memorial and Labor Days have been called the “100 deadliest days for teenage drivers.” A coalition of our country’s largest wireless carriers have joined in a national advertising campaign to discourage mobile users from texting while driving during these upcoming 100 days. AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile are all joining this campaign which they call “It Can Wait.”
Here is AT&T’s Don’t Text While Driving Documentary:

Let’s all pause and join them in reminding our teenage drivers that “It Can Wait.”
You can also find out more information about the dangers of texting and driving on Verizon’s “It’s up to Me” commitment to keeping our roads safe.