It is not a bizarre occurrence to see hordes of students whip out their cellular telephones the moment class gets out to send a message in textual form.
In fact, it is difficult to walk through campus without almost running into a [insert pedestrian, biker, skateboarder here] who is desperate to update someone via text message.
Don’t think we’re trying to be preachy. We do it too.
While it by no means adds to a safe moving-through-campus environment, texting while operating a bike, skateboard, legs or something of the non-motorized sort tends to be less of a hazard than doing so while operating a motor vehicle.
Most of us (hopefully) wouldn’t walk around campus drunk, but texting seems to be no big deal. Many tend to think that the same principle applies to operating a car.
Unfortunately, too many are mistaken.
According to The Week, drivers who text while behind the wheel are four times slower to hit the breaks than drivers who are under the influence of alcohol.
Shocked?
If you have ever been to school, chances are you are aware of the incredible dangers that come with driving under the influence of alcohol. And chances are you are already aware of how impaired you get when you’ve had something to drink. But texting has become so ingrained in our habits that it seems harmless.
Eric Dachman, a film freshman, recently received an award for creating a public service announcement regarding driving while texting. The PSA will be aired on national television. Dachman said he focused on text messaging because it is not addressed as often as necessary.
College students juggle so many tasks throughout the day that driving without doing something else conflicts with our multi-tasking nature.
Coach drivers of the 1800s never had to worry about texting. They didn’t whip out a quill and ink bottle every time they thought of a message that “couldn’t wait” — dealing with the horse and carriage probably prevented dazed, unfocused driving and kept them busy.
Maybe reverting to more complicated driving techniques will tone down the hazard?
While the digression of transportation technology is unlikely to happen (probably a good thing), becoming so comfortable behind the modern wheel that we distract ourselves puts people in more danger than we probably realize.
Although a bill that would restrict cell phone use while driving statewide recently failed in the Arizona State Legislature, a bill that was introduced in Congress in July would withhold federal stimulus money from states where texting while driving is legal.
In September, the U.S. Department of Transportation will hold a summit to discuss distracted driving, including text messaging.
No matter how benign we think typing out a quick message is, the possibility that it will turn deadly is too high to take a chance.
Are you willing to risk your life for a text message? Are you willing to risk someone else’s?
