How do you rate when it comes to texting and driving?
Posted by The Skyliner on March 24th, 2010Julie Cobb
Staff Writer
Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please. The United States of America is facing a major crisis and I feel that it is my civil duty to inform you of the impending doom.
A new epidemic, known as Acute Text Messaging Syndrome, is sweeping across the nation and affecting people of all ages who have access to a cell phone.
ATMS is both very addicting and contagious. It has several symptoms. Some of the more serious symptoms include sore thumbs, restlessness and decreased ability to spell and put a complete sentence together. Some rare cases have even resulted in amputation of the thumbs.
If you begin to experience any of these symptoms, please seek prompt medical attention.
While, of course, there is no such thing as ATMS and impending doom may be a bit of an exaggeration, the truth is that texting is becoming more of a danger to society.
According to a research study conducted by the National Safety Council in 2009, 28 percent of car accidents are caused by drivers either sending or receiving text messages. Out of 1.4 million car accidents, roughly 200,000 were related to text messaging.
Another study conducted by psychologists at the University of Utah in 2009 showed the reaction times of those who texted while driving were 30 percent worse than those who were not texting.
Before you get behind the wheel of a car, put your phone on vibrate so you will be less likely to hear incoming text messages. If you still find yourself tempted to text, turn off the cell phone completely until you have reached your destination or hand your phone to someone else.
“I will sometimes look at a text while driving, but I won’t text. I get friends to do it for me,” said Stephanie Patton, sophomore linguistics.
Do society a favor and put down the cell phone while you are operating a 3,000 pound chunk of speeding metal.
Unfortunately, poor driving is not the only downfall of texting. According to the Nielson Company, in 2008 adults ages 18-24 sent 790 text messages per month compared to 265 phone calls.
Communication is starting to break down. People are picking up the phone less often to call home. Instead, short messages of “c u l8r” or “I luv you” are being sent to friends and loved ones.
In some cases, texting is all right. If you just need to send a short message or reminder, it is understandable.
“I text because it’s faster than calling the person. When I call someone I feel like I need to at least talk a few minutes to not be rude. And when you are around a busier area I like to text because it gives you privacy. I don’t want the people around me to have to listen to my conversation,” said Patton.
Reading words off a page seems far more impersonal than hearing the words coming from the person. It takes more courage to speak your feelings than to write them.
My challenge for you is to limit your use of text messaging. Instead, call some people you have not called in a while to show how much you care about them.
Tags: Spring 2010, Vol. 110 - Issue 8