The Arizona teenager knows it's illegal in Phoenix and dangerous. She once almost drifted into oncoming traffic while looking at her phone.
But would a nationwide ban stop Cordova and her friends from texting in their cars? No way, she said.
"Nobody is going to listen," Cordova said.
With momentum building in Washington for all 50 U.S. states to outlaw text messaging behind the wheel, there is evidence that the key demographic targeted by such legislation, teen drivers, will not pay much attention.
At least one major study has found that, with mobile devices now central to their lives, young people often ignore laws against using cell phones or texting in the car.
The number of text messages is up tenfold in the past three years and Americans sent an estimated 1 trillion in 2009.
Some police agencies, while strongly in favor of such mandates, say its tough for officers to enforce them.
The California Highway Patrol has handed out nearly 163,000 tickets to drivers talking on hand-held phones since mid-2008. But it has issued only 1,400 texting citations since January in a state of 23 million drivers -- not for lack of trying.
"The handheld cell phone is relatively easy for us to spot, we can see when somebody has their phone up to their ear," CHP spokeswoman Fran Clader said.
"But with the texting it's a little bit more of a challenge to catch them in the act, because we have to see it and if they are holding it down in their lap it's going to be harder for us to see."
Already 19 states and the District of Columbia ban texting by all drivers, while 9 others prohibit it by young drivers.
TEXTING CAUSES ACCIDENTS
In July, Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer, citing a study that found texting drivers were 23 times more likely to be in an accident, introduced a bill requiring states to prohibit the practice or risk losing federal highway funds.
Since then, Senator Jay Rockefeller has offered his own bill that would achieve the ban through grants to states.
In October, during a three-day conference in Washington on distracted driving, President Barack Obama signed an executive order barring federal employees from texting behind the wheel.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said he would seek to expand that rule to bus drivers and truckers who cross state lines and called the conference "probably the most important meeting in the history of the Department of Transportation."
But a much-cited study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that usage of cell phones for calls and texting in North Carolina actually ticked up slightly after the state banned them for drivers under the age of 18.
A study by the Automobile Club of Southern California found that texting by drivers dropped after the state's law took effect, but it did not break down the data by age.
"What I would say is that texting and cell phone devices have become such a component of life for teens and for young people that it's hard for them to differentiate between doing something normal and doing something wrong," said Steven Bloch, senior research associate for the Automobile Club.
The problem is not unique to the United States. In Britain, a public service announcement on texting while driving drew worldwide attention for its extremely graphic imagery.
The spot shows three texting teen girls in a horrific head-on collision with another car, and lingers on shots of their bloodied faces shattering the windshield as a child whose parents have been killed cries for her dead mother to wake up.
In 2007, Phoenix became one of the first U.S. cities to ban texting while driving, although Arizona still has no statewide law.
Out of a group of four high school students interviewed by Reuters in Phoenix, three admitted texting while driving and a fourth said he had stopped only after his cousin caused a serious traffic accident while sending a message.
Cordova's classmate, 17-year-old Anna Hauer, says she often texts her boyfriend when she drives and doubts she or her friends would stop because of new legislation.
"By the time they pull you over, the chances are you are going to be done with your text anyway so they can't exactly prove that you were texting," she said.
37 comments:
Nothing important has ever been said in a text message. So getting in an accident over a phone is pretty stupid. I don't think passsing a law to ban phones in the car will work, especially with todays teens and their obssesion with phones. Texting while driving is like calling 1-800-killmeimstupid.
I honestly thing that there should be a law against texting while driving. Its a hazard to yourself and others on road. Many people are killed because of text messages. I dont text while i'm driving. But i am, however, for texting at stop lights, only when they're red, of course. I dont want to take the risk of injuring other people as well as myself. The law will be very hard to enforce, but it's worth a shot. and when someone does get caught, chances are (if they're smart) they're not going to do it again. By stopping people one at a time, sooner or later, there will be a decrease in the people texting while driving. It will also make the roads safer.
Like it was said, even though texting while driving can cause serious problems, how would police be able to enforce this like it needs to? Also, would a ban of texting apply only to cell phones, or would it apply to all electronic devices that require eye contact such as laptop's and mp3 players?
Texting while driving is dangerous to the driver and to everyone else on the road. The solution to the problem, however, is not clear. Everyone should simply not be texting while driving. The simplest way for it to be everyone's personal choice. This however, will not protect the safety of people on the road. Inforcing some sort of legislation to prevent cell phone usage is and will be next to impossible.
Texting while driving has become a dangerous situation. Yet, I think if a law were to become enacted to stop teens from texting I don't think anyone would follow that rule and there may just be more rebellion to make teens want to start texting more while driving if they knew it was some sort of taboo to them. If everyone were to simply follow the rules while on the road there wouldn't be as much hoopla about this issue and the federal government could be spending money and time on issues that could actually be useful towards the American people and not just one certain demographic.
this article is correct. I have friends that still text in thier car while they are driving, and some can do it without having to even look. So this law will really have no effect on those who text while driving because if the police have to see it, they just have to keep it low and out of sight, and they wont get stopped. So the effort put out by the police will never be good enough to see through a door, making the police not able to stop or fine them. The passing of this law was really useless, because its not going to stop those ignorant.This law will never get anything done without other things added onto it.
I think that one of the most important rules of driving is to pay close attention to what's in front of you. I also think that these teen drivers should know better than to text while driving a car, especially when they're in a busy road. Now, I don't text and I don't even drive that much. But if I could drive and if I texted on a hourly basis, then I'd most likely text somewhere other than in the driver's seat of a car. In my humblest of opinions, people basically show how careless they are when they text and drive at the same time. I can see why texting while driving is banned in some states.
These kids are right. They probably won't get every teen to stop because young people are so hard-headed. The only way they might listen is if something bad happens to them or someone they know which is unfortunate.
I think the teen Cordova has the right idea. Though everyone knows that texting while driving makes one more likely to cause an accident, no one is going to stop. It doesn't matter how many horrific commercials are played or how many staggering statistics are presented, teenagers won't listen. It's like smoking. Though everyone knows it's horrible for your health, people still do it. I don't know what the solution to this problem is and I don't really see one.
Ok, so, why do people have to text while their driving? I mean, at least wait for a red traffic signal or something. Anyway, I think that although it'll be difficult, that something needs to be done about this issue. I mean, I know that they can't make teens stop texting while driving, lets face, its really hard to catch someone in the act, but its necessary to at least set boundaries and enforce some kind of rules.
Texting while driving is extremely dangerous, but I seriously doubt everyone is ever going to completely stop doing it. Hopefully, as more and more accidents occur due to texting while driving, people will start to realize how life threatening it is and maybe a portion of them will stop.
I have really mixed feelings about this issue. Texting while driving is definitely a major cause of accidents and deaths that occur behind the wheel and is thus, a huge problem. At the same time, though, banning it may not necessarily amount to much. As the article points out, texting is a very normal aspect of American life, especially for teenagers. To expect that outlawing it will stop accidents is optimistic to the point of being foolish. It will still occur, though drivers will do it more discreetly. And, it's not an easy law to enforce. However, I do see the logic in outlawing texting behind the wheel. It will make drivers aware, at least, that what they're doing is ILLEGAL. Tacking the word illegal onto something will instill a fear, if nothing else, into those doing it, and surely, some people will comply. As for the others, a few fines will probably make them comply as well.
Texting has become a serious issue, especially while driving. Yet, it's something that even most adults can't get through the day without doing. I believe it's become an addiction for many teenagers, and like an other addiction, it's hard to stop.
I think I speak for most teens when I say that we know the dangers of texting while driving, and have heard or seen the results at least a hundred times. But, I'm not going to lie, it hasn't stopped me. And sadly, a piece of legislation probably won't stop most either.
This is a serious matter, and one that can be life threatening, but nothing appears to stop us....until it hits close to home.
Texting while driving is a serious issue that should be addressed and banned. Young adults who claim that they will continue to use their phone even if the practice is banned should seriously ask themselves this question: is talking to your friend via text really worth risking your life and those of innocent others? If the conversation they are having is really that important, they should pull their vehicle over and give that person their undivided attention. Why do we continuously put ourselves in potentially harmful situations by increasing the odds? It's called common sense.
Texting while driving can be a very dangerous issue. Theres alot of people that do it and I dnt think it has been taken serious like it should. Its good to know that at least now they're trying to do something about it. Its going to be tough but i think we"ve taken the first step in trying to stop this.
This is one of those things that every teen groans at. You cant just stop them. It takes more then that. There is always a loop hole. Right now in Lubbock, only people over 21 can text or talk on the phone while driving. I can say about 90% of all my friends who drive, text while they are driving. Its a fad, only it wont go away until they come up with something more advanced.
Every time we hear about an accident, the first two things we say are: "That sucks" and, "That wont happen to me". And thankfully it hasnt happened to anyone we know.
Cordova said her friends wont stop, I know I wont. Maybe I will stick to texting at stop lights.
This is the same matter as school though. They say no phones and everyone still texts the whole time. Its crazy. The thing is, if they say not to do it, everyone wants to. Simple.
Teens are gonna text no matter what kinda law they make trying to ban the use of texting while driving. Its pretty much a way of life for teens now every teen has either done it once or does it continually on a daily basis, i mean i do it all the time but ive gotten so good at it to where i can still watch the road and text at the same time. Alot of teens are like this, its the unexperienced that make this such a hazardous deal. If they ran a study on teens who can actually do that and drive to the teens have to look at their texting while driving the outcome would be alot different.
Well if Cordova is soooo smart, then she would realize that every message you send or receive has a time/date recorded on the phone and on her phone bill...
which actually should help more in favor in up and coming studies.
...women. :/
I really can't understand why people text or use phones while driving, even though they know it's dangerous. I just watched the British PSA mentioned in the post, and it's pretty scary stuff. The worst part is that things like that probably happen every day because people don't bother to drive safely. One thing that bothers me is the North Carolina law that makes it legal for you to use phones if you're above 18. Why have it be legal at all? Does being older, and presumably more responsible, make it less likely to get into an accident because someone was using a cell phone? What scares me the most is that Cordova, despite actually almost getting into a head-on because of neglectful driving, still doesn't care. Just goes to show how much Americans care about their own lives; you always take something for granted until you lose it.
The reality of texting being a danger is finally settling in. I just dont understand how drivers, especially teens,can be so passive to texting when the crash death rate by text is rising so high. Keep the texting rebellion in schools not on the road. Its better to be safe than sorry in the long run. I try my best to put my phone away when behind the wheel, I'd rather get in a little fender bender than a head on collision due to my incompetence. What a waste,kids stick to a regular conversation or get a blue tooth!
i think they should make it a law because many teens and people are getting killed. They are to worried about what their next text says instead of driving. If it becomes a law more people will pay attention to their drivin, and less teens and people will die.
This is a HUGE issue in my opinion however, I'm not exactly sure how to go about dealing with it. Apparently making a law about it isn't going to necessarily solve anything. I personally know that several of our own students text while driving at least occasionally. Texting has become an addiction. We do it in class, so why not behind the wheel as well? What is the solution here???
I completely understand why it is dangerous to text while driving, but not many teens are going to listen. Just because there is new legislation that is banning the use of a cell phone behind the wheel doesn't mean that it will be followed. There are many laws currently in effect that aren't being followed so why is this one any different? I agree that people should focus on driving and not other things while they are driving because it can have serious consequences but cell phones have become such an important aspect, essentially a necessity, of our lives that people can't seem to function without them.
This issue is one that should have an easy solution, but it doesn't. The problem? It's that this law can be interpreted in only one way: it is illegal to TEXT while driving. Even the officer featured in the article admitted the difficulty in catching a driver in the act of texting. I can honestly say that if I were pulled over for texting while driving, my first explanation would be that I was using the GPS feature on my phone. Then what? Does an officer really have the ability to differentiate tasks on a cell phone in a passing car? If this legislation is going to have any long-term significance, it needs to put a ban on any cell phone use that results in a loss of awareness. Because looking at a cell phone screen is distracting while driving, no matter the task.
Honestly texting and driving isnt safe becasue it turns you attention away from the road and surrounding vehicles. I myself text while I drive and have had near death experiences, and its not safe. To pass a law enabling people from texting and or talking on the phone while in their vehicle is pointless and kind of inconsiderate because people may have emergencies and may need to talk on the phone, as for texting the same could be said for it. Let people do what they want!!!
I think that a law banning cell phone usage while driving would help tremendously. Putting a fine on something automatically enforce a fear to do that something. In this case, that something is texting while driving. So if there's a chance that they will get caught and fined, they will most likely do it less often. So i think its a good idea, you can change any situation by making rules.
This is a noble thing to think about, but unfortunately even if legislation was passed, no one would follow the new laws and there is no way to prove people were texting while driving or not. It would be way too much wasted effort on a law that wouldn't be upheld by anyone. We can try to change the way people are, but we will never succeed. It's the sad, cold truth.
Texting while driving should be completely outlawed... i dont want to get hit or killed by somone who's being stuipid enough to not pay attention, this is to much of a risk to be taken 'lightly'... i actuly know somone who texts while they drive and when try to text, they put both their legs up to hold the wheel to be able to hold their phone to type a pointless message... i mean you cant wait like 10 mins to get accross lubbock to say what you need to say?
i hope people dont look at this article and try to dismiss it by saying statistics are wrong and try to blow it off, cause even if the statistics were wrong, look at it from a logical point, if you not looking at the road or paying attention for that matter, while driving, is that smart?
The teens being interviewed speak for the vast majority of teens and people of text. They aren't simply going to stop texting behind the wheel because of a new law. It does not have a direct effect on them, unless they have been or know someone personally who has been in an accident with texting to blame (which is a minority of the drivers). The officers should enforce the law, but it, like they said, rather difficult to prove and even catch them in the act. The government really should be more effective if they want a change on the graph.
The point is not if you get caught texting, it's if you die. "If they pull you over chances are you'll be done texting so it's not like they can really prove anything." well if you're texting while driving and you crash into another vehicle, catapulting your self through the window and splattering your brains all over the street, i would thing you'd probably be through texting too. It's just stuid. I text alot and I can only recall a few things that I talked about that were important, but not even those things were important emergencies that I had to know right that second. It can always wait, and if it cant then have the curtesy to pull over. You may not care about your life but what about the life of a little girl who was just on her way to her first dance recital with her father? yeah finding out about that guy you like really matters now.
YES TEXTING WHILE DRIVING IS ILLEGAL IN SOME STATES BUT EVERYONE DOES IT INCLUDING MYSELF. IT'S NOT ONLY TEENAGERS THAT ARE HAVING THE PROBLEM OF STOPPING THERE ARE SOME ADULTS AS WELL. TRUE THERE HAVE BEEN ALOT OF ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY THE PERSON TEXTING BEHIND THE WHEEL BUT THERE HAS ALSO BEEN ALOT BY DRINKING AND DRIVING. MANY TEENS WILL NOT LISTEN TO THIS UP COMING LAW ANYWAYS. IT'S JUST LIKE IN SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TEXT BUT THEY DO ANYWAYS. SO WHAT MAKES PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE GOING TO LISTEN NOW.
I think that it's definitely an important issue, but I believe that even with text phone prohibited by law it's not going to stop. Drivers will continue to text on their laps while driving, and also there will be others who do it straight up in the open. I believe AT&T or verizon and all the other carriers should make an application to control your phone by having it installed somehow in your car, thus hands off. It can prevent accidents and also make cell phones easier to access.
Millie Dorsett
I think whoever is texting while driving really needs to quit whether it's banned or not because it's a stupid reason to risk dying for. If you are texting the person it's most likely not an emergency so it could wait just a little while. No matter how good you think you are at it you should never risk your life or others' life.
i admit i have used my phone while driving... who hasnt? but they say that talking on ur phone/ using ur phone is worse than driving drunk. and that goes for everyone. why should legislation be aimed at teenagers? it should be for all ages.
sometimes my mom says that "due to your lack of a frontal lobe you teenagers act like bad things wont happen to you"
i beg to differ. people with fully developed frontal lobes ignore legislation like this too.
I agree with Cordova; "nobody is going to listen." It's that whole teenage rebellion thing. You tell us not to do something and we want to do it even more. It's a phase. Unless the law strongly inforces this law, nothing is going to change. I agree that texting while driveing is dangerous but in most teenagers eyes, it's more important to send out a text than whatch the road. It's pretty messed up but that's how it is; it probably won't change.
Texting and driving is a huge issue that is causing more and more accidents each day. "What I would say is that texting and cell phone devices have become such a component of life for teens and for young people that it's hard for them to differentiate between doing something normal and doing something wrong," said Steven Bloch, which is mostly true; teenagers now a days are reserved around technology its part of our generation. I admit that I text and drive, but after recent reports about accidents and deaths its scared me to want to continue. We as a generation only focus when it affect us, but until that happens we are clueless.
Good luck trying to enforce this law. The only people who will get a ticket for texting while driving are those that are starting a text. Some people text pretty fast so half of those that are suspected wont get the ticket. So maybe 10%? Maybe a little more will get a fine. If the people who text get in a wreck the blaim is squarely on their shoulders.
The smart thing to do is to get a friend/relitive to drive while you text in the the passenger seat. ^.^
Dont text the driver though cause that is a waste of phone battery.
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