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Rhode Island Attorney General Introduces “Stop the Texts, Stop the Wrecks”

| Nov 1, 2011 | Uncategorized

It appears that Rhode Island law enforcement organizations love rhyming, yet juvenile, slogans for their campaigns. In the wake of “Click it or ticket” an effort to remind people to buckle up or face a citation, comes the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office with “Stop the Texts, Stop the Wrecks!”. This witty little ditty is meant to bring to everyone’s attention the very real and very serious dangers of texting while driving. Clearly I’m having a little fun with the nature of these awareness campaigns, but I am fully supportive of their intent.

Texting while driving, as demonstrated in earlier posts on this blog, is as dangerous and potentially more dangerous than drunk driving. Texting increases both the likelihood and seriousness of being injured in a car accident. We say “texting” but in effect any use of your smartphone that takes your attention away from the road can lead to a car crash. Checking Facebook, Twitter, email or anything else that your smartphone might be capable of takes your attention from the road. Even though you feel that you are only glancing at the phone for a second or so, your attention is greatly distracted and an accident may be inevitable.

Here are some of the statistics that I have discussed in previous posts: Roughly 20% of all injury causing auto accidents are caused by distracted drivers and Smart phone users are more than four times likely to be in a car accident. Similarly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Association has reported that distracted driving is the Number ONE cause of teenage deaths in America!

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