Stop Texting While Driving to Save Lives is Focus of New National Campaign

New Haven, CT (Law Firm Newswire) January 27, 2012 – A new texting while driving campaign shows how five seconds of distraction can cause a serious accident. The campaign is by the Ad Council in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is called “Stop the Texts. Stop the Wrecks.” Specifically, it targets teens who are enticed to stay connected while driving.

“Taking your eyes off the road to check an email, text, or make a phone can be all it takes to run into someone and risk your life,” said Connecticut personal injury attorney Michael A. Stratton, of Stratton Faxon Law Firm. “Turn your phone to silent mode so you will not be compelled to use it and focus on getting to your destination.”

The NHTSA sponsored the campaign because it found that 82 percent of 16-to-24-year-olds had read text messages while driving. Many cellphone carriers now offer “away messages” to be sent to callers when a person is driving. Or if a call or text is vital, give the phone to a passenger to take care of.

“Reaction time shows that texting or using a cellphone can be as bad as drunk driving,” said Stratton. “Severe injuries or deaths are not worth chatting on the phone or checking Facebook.”

What is alarming is that alcohol-related accidents for teens have dropped, but teen auto fatalities have remained the same largely due to distracted driving, the campaign reports. If the average teen sends out 23 texts while driving a month, teens are putting their and other lives in jeopardy.

To learn more, visit the Connecticut personal injury law firm at http://www.strattonfaxon.com.

Stratton Faxon
59 Elm Street
New Haven, CT 06510
Call: 203.624.9500

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