It really can wait.
Imagine driving down a busy road during rush-hour, covering your eyes for five or six seconds at a time as if you were playing hide-and-seek with an imaginary friend. That’s essentially what happens when you text and drive.
Whether it’s to confirm an appointment, make one last grocery shopping request or let someone know we are still thinking of them, sending that one text message really quickly may seem worth it at the time … until there’s an accident.
With the rate of fatal accidents climbing an astounding 14% in the first half of 2015 alone, addressing the issue of texting and driving has become an increasingly important focal point in efforts to curb these otherwise preventable mishaps. According to the National Safety Council, one in four crashes involves some sort of cellphone use, and 11% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were distracted at the time.
And it’s not just cell phone use contributing to these numbers. “Distracted driving involves more than just texting,” says Janice Hobart, AVP Corporate Communications at GEICO. “It could be eating, grooming, talking – any activity that takes a driver’s eyes off the road and their minds away from the responsibilities of driving. It is extremely important to instill the proper habits into our young drivers right from the start.”
Safe driving is everyone’s responsibility. GEICO’s Teen Driving site offers a number of free resources to educate teens and their parents about distracted driving habits and other important issues facing young drivers.
By Steven Scott