Texting Dangers

By: Lisa Blackwell Email
By: Lisa Blackwell Email

One of the most popular ways to communicate is also becoming one of the most dangerous. Text messaging on a cellphone while doing anything can cause serious injury, even death.

Almost anyone with a cell phone knows how to text. Some people use the feature more than others and it can be a simple, fast way to get your message across. However, text messaging while driving, or trying to perform other functions, even walking, can be deadly.

Sgt. Randy Anderson of the Houston County Sheriff's Office, says, “I see numerous times when people are passing, while I'm trying to walk small children across the road on the cross walk, and the people are text messaging while they're driving. They're so focused on the text messaging, when it should be on the driving.

Kacie Watson, a cell phone user, admits, “I do occasionally text while I'm driving. I'll get distracted and swerve, or you know a red light will turn green and I'll miss it, or someone will pull out in front of me and it'll throw me off.

One woman admitted to me she drives with her knees and texts, but driving isn't the only way text messaging can be dangerous.

A boy in Florida was recently killed when he walked into the path of an oncoming car while text messaging. The train collision near Los Angeles, California, that left 25 people dead may have been the result of an engineer missing a signal while text messaging.

Christopher Hughes, cell phone user, admits, “I was walking in the mall while I was texting, and I was using my peripheral vision to see where I was going. I pretty much had to stop just because I couldn't do both things at the same time, so I lost focus with what was going on.”

Authorities say whether you're behind the wheel, or on your feet, it's best to take precautions.

Sgt. Anderson says, “I highly recommend that you pull over on the side of the road so you can fully focus on what you're doing, and not continue to drive. Even walking has been proven, you might trip and fall, or cause an accident to yourself, or somebody else.

Text messaging while driving is not illegal in Alabama, but it has been banned in seven other states.

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