Two Utah universities are attempting to combat the growing trend of distracted driving, a trend extremely common among students. Most of us have picked up our cell phones while we drive and many can’t resist sending that quick text. It only takes a couple seconds, but that’s all it takes to cause a serious crash. David Strayer, a professor of psychology at the University of Utah, says, “Now we are losing more teenagers to distracted driving than to drunk driving.”
Video Courtesy of KSL.com
University of Utah has published nationally- recognized data on the dangers of distracted driving. Strayer says over the past 20 years there has been a 60 percent decrease in drunk driving fatalities for teenagers. At the same time, 30 percent more teens are killed in auto accidents while driving distracted. “One in 10 people who are driving at any given time are talking on the phone. I don’t think you’d feel safe driving back to work or home at night if you knew one in 10 drivers were drunk,” Strayer says.
These startling statistics have motived a Utah Valley University student, Jalise Hinton to make a billboard warning people about the dangers of distracted driving. The billboard reads: “C u l8r. Will these be your final words?”The billboard is visible driving south on Interstate 15 in Murray, Utah. “Prevention — I’m hoping to see some major changes. Hopefully people can put that phone away while they’re driving,” says Hinton.
I congratulate Ms. Hinton for this clever billboard and desire to educate and motivate against distracted driving.
Ron Kramer is n Utah accident and injury attorney involved in bringing cases against motorists who injure another while driving while they are distracted or texting.