Jul 5, 2018 4 min read

It’s a holiday week. My concerns about distracted driving led me to seek a column in my archives addressing this important topic. I updated this column from 2010 to conform to current statistics and laws; I hope these words encourage safe driving.

Q.My boyfriend texts while he drives and that really scares me. I tell him over and over and he just laughs. I know a lot of people who do text and drive, but I won’t ride with them. I tell myself that the fact that it’s my boyfriend doing it shouldn’t be different. I love him, but I don’t want to be in an accident.

– 19-year-old female

Mary Jo’s response: You’re correct. Driving while texting has been shown to be more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Researchers at Virginia Tech video recorded real drivers over 18 months. The effect of distracted driving was potentially lethal; drunk driving increased the likelihood of a crash by four times and texting while driving increased the likelihood of a crash by double that amount or eight times. An even more sobering statistic on reaction time was demonstrated in a Car and Driver study. The study compared the distance required to stop while traveling at 35 mph. Relative to an unimpaired driver, a texting driver traveled a full 25 more feet before stopping. A drunk driver only traveled an additional 4 feet.

Cellphone use is connected to distracted driving as well, but the Virginia Tech study showed that of all cellphone related tasks – including talking, dialing or reaching for the phone – texting while driving is the most dangerous. Teen drivers are four times more likely than adults to get into car crashes or near crash events directly related to talking on a cellphone or texting.

Currently 47 states ban texting while driving, defined as “sending, reading, or writing words” on an interactive wireless communication device while driving. Pennsylvania law prohibits as a primary offense any driver from using an IWCD to send, read or write a text-based communication while his or her vehicle is in motion.

The Pennsylvania law:

• Defines an IWCD as a wireless phone, personal digital assistant, smartphone, portable or mobile computer or similar devices that can be used for texting, instant messaging, emailing or browsing the internet.
• Defines a text-based communication as a text message, instant message, email or other written communication composed or received on an IWCD.
• Institutes a $50 fine for convictions under this section.

Let’s talk about the pressure you feel to ride with your texting boyfriend when you are firm in your decision to avoid riding with friends who exhibit the same behavior. Remember, a relationship doesn’t eliminate common sense. The right thing is still the right thing. Be strong and examine why you continue to ride with him when he clearly isn’t listening to your wishes. Are there other aspects of your relationship where you give in to his demands? A healthy relationship involves respect. Your boyfriend may not understand your concerns, but he needs to respect you. Show him this column. Tell him you care about him too much to let him take risks with his life and the lives of others. Be firm and refuse to ride with him while he texts. And, please follow your own advice. I know many teens who feel safe while texting; sadly, their sense of security is false. Stay safe.

Peer Educator (2010) response: Some of us admit to texting while driving. At first, we decided that teens text well and can text without looking at their phones. After reading Mary Jo’s statistics we’re not so sure. If we’re honest, we admit we do take our eyes off the wheel to look at our texts. Texts are distracting, but so is driving while eating or drinking, fooling around with the radio or talking on a cellphone. We guess we need to re-think texting…