Texting and Driving is Distracted Driving
One in five road accidents in Texas is caused by distracted driving, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. There are several popular actions that are considered as distracting to drivers such as eating, operating a cellular or electronic device or fiddling with the stereo system. Texting while driving within Texas could be punishable by a fine of $25-99 for first-time offenders and $100-200 for repeat offenders. If an accident caused by texting and driving results in death or serious bodily injury of another person, the driver could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor.
Put Your Phone Away
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, glancing at your phone for 5 seconds at 55 mph is a comparison to driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. The NHTSA reported that in 2015 alone 3,477 people will killed and 391,000 were injured in motor vehicle accidents who involved distracted drivers. The most common misunderstanding by a distracted drivers is that taking their eyes for a couple of seconds off the road to check their phone is harmless. Although distracted driving includes other actions, texting and talking on the phone are among the most popular distractions. When you’re driving, it’s essential to give your full attention to the road and other vehicles. To avoid the temptation of checking your phone you can place the phone in a secure place out of reach, such as the glove compartment or even the trunk.
Send Auto-replies to Texts While Driving
One solution to resolve the temptation of replying to a text while behind the wheel is to have an app on your phone that will automatically send a reply when someone texts you. Sometimes the temptation is purely to send someone a text to tell them you’re driving. This is a dangerous move no matter how small the text. AT&T has designed an application DriveMode, which will send automated replies to the sender so they know you got their text and that you’ll reply once you’re no longer behind the wheel. Check out the details here!
Pull Over
If you need to check your phone for texts or answer a call, it’s much better to find a safe place to stop. Pull over into a parking space or wherever is appropriate, so you’re no longer on the road. You and everyone around you will be much safer if you pull over before handling your phone.
Don’t risk getting into an accident that could result in serious injury or even death. Say no to texting while driving and keep yourself and others safe. Follow our safety paws advise and take the pledge! Don’t text and drive and put your thumbs away! If you ever need our help, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We are available to take your call 24/7! You may text and/or call the 4’s and 9’s! SA (210) 444-4444 RGV (956) 444-4444 Corpus (361) 999-9999