Verizon Wireless Cell Phone News, Views and Reviews

Putting Out A Hit on This Deadly Habit

There is a lot of important information I want to get across to you in this article. If you don't have time to read the whole thing, I implore you to at least watch the video and peruse the bold points.

Did you ever hear the phrase, The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Wireless Zone®. In this case I feel pretty safe to say they do. Texting while driving is deadly and we must ban together to stop it. It's deadly to the person texting and every pedestrian, driver and passenger in it the vacinity. Maybe you aren't the person texting, maybe it's your teenage son or daughter. Maybe you aren't in the vacinity, but maybe your mother is about the cross the street in front of someone who is texting and didn't see the light change. I don't care who you are, you should agree, its a bad practice and as much as we may be tempted to send a quick message, it's deadly I would venture to say, its just as bad as driving while intoxicated. Surely none of you codone that.

This PSA from the UK video is very graphic and not suggested for viewing by anyone under 13. It may be the shock needed to scare even adults from texting while driving.

MIDDLETOWN, CT - At the turn of the New Year, Illinois, New Hampshire and Oregon added its names to the growing list of states that have banned texting while driving. Those who text while driving are 22 times more likely to get into a car accident—a staggering statistic that has influenced political powers and a national retailer to take a stand.

Wireless Zone, the largest Verizon Wireless retail franchise in the U.S., has announced it will place an application called Textecution on all applicable phones that prevents texting while driving at no cost to its customers. "Wireless Zone has always been committed to cell phone safety," said Mark Asnes, COO and Executive Vice President of Wireless Zone®. In addition, "our stores have provided hundreds of thousands of free hands-free devices to anyone with a cell phone - whether or not they purchased the phone from us. The challenge today is people text more than they talk; and driving while texting is a danger for everyone on the road. We knew we had to do something.

Textecution runs on Android phones and uses the onboard GPS to know how fast the phone is moving. If it detects the phone traveling at 10 miles per hour or higher, Textecution disables the texting, email and web browsing functions of the phone. "We see the application primarily as a tool for parents to install on their teenage driver's phone so they know their child is safer behind the wheel of the vehicle. However, the program is also ideal for companies to install on its employees cell phones," Asnes said.

"As a loving and protective parent, my children were the inspiration," Young said. "I felt the temptation to text while driving was simply too great, and I was determined to prevent it. The idea was truly an epiphany that I hope prevents many needless tragedies and keeps all of our kids and loved ones safer on the road."

• According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about one in three of all drivers use a cell phone while driving. Other federal studies say the figure is much higher - finding that over 70% of all cell phone users talk on the cell phone while driving. 
• AAA attributes 330,000 highway injuries annually to cell phones being used while driving
• In 2007, driver distractions, such as using a cell phone or text messaging, contributed to nearly 1,000 crashes involving 16- and 17-year-old drivers.
• Over 60 percent of American teens admit to risky driving, and nearly half of those that admit to risky driving also admit to text messaging behind the wheel.
• Each year, 21% of fatal car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 were the result of cell phone usage. This result has been expected to grow as much as 4% every year.

Related Links
Oprah's show on Distracted Driving. Short clip
Oprah's show on Distracted Driving. Full Episode
“Crashproof Your Kids – Make Your Teen A Safer, Smarter Driver”
National Safety Council’s Alive at 25 website
SADD-Teens Admit Text Messaging Most Distracting While Driving