The
Growl
Bettendorf High School Volume 49 Issue 3
Friday, Dec. 14, 2012
Texting and driving threaten teen lives by Megan Sanchez Editor
The day kids turns 16, the first thing they want to do is hop in the car and drive. The privilege to operate a motor vehicle, free of their hyperventilating parent next to them in the passenger seat, is something most kids look forward to. However, once they are given this opportunity, many take it for granted. “When you get in a car, it’s your job. Your friends, radio, and cell phone should not be your focus,” security officer Walt Powell said. Distracted driving has become an epidemic in today’s society. With busy schedules and technology rapidly changing, teenagers often find the car as their outlet for multi-tasking. One of the most popular activities students engage in while driving is texting. “It’s difficult to focus when multitasking, and focus is critical. Regardless of your driving skill, it puts your life in danger,” Powell said. According to textinganddrivngsafety. com, last year 23 percent of auto collisions involved cell phones. That’s equivalent to 1.3 million crashes. “Students think that something as scary as a fatal crash couldn’t happen at Bettendorf, but it can. They need to be more aware of the statistics,” Powell said. Bettendorf students are guilty when it comes to this dangerous act. Powell said he witnesses students texting and driving on campus on a daily basis, several times a day. He also points out that our students have an extreme lack of courtesy for other drivers.
“I text at stoplights. Sometimes I feel attached to my phone emotionally. When I am sitting at a stoplight with nothing to do it’s almost natural. I just grab my phone,” another anonymous student said.
Dixon would know the car was coming if she was not texting. Quite a few groups of students at Bettendorf have been in car accidents due to distracted driving on either end. Overall, Powell believes teen drivers are being less careful. “I think students don’t think about the aftermath and what could really happen,” Powell said. With high statistics, increasing deaths, and a school full of kids with the newest iPhones, one group of students feel something needs to be done. Sophomores Alaina Wallace and Kylee Cangas are heading the student council committee in the “One Text Could Wreck It All” project. They are working with sophomore Faith Martin and
Texting and driving increase your risk of crashing by
23 times.
“I text and drive because I feel like I have good peripheral vision, and I usually look up and keep my eyes on the road. I am pretty good at texting without looking, so I trust my instincts,” according to a student who wished to remain anonymous.
freshmen Karly Lent and Luke Hovey. These students are planning to have an assembly that will raise awareness of the issue of texting and driving. They are also planning on doing t-shirts. They will be partnering with the Bettendorf Police to
make this project happen. “I hope that, after this project, high school students realize that the dangers of texting and driving outweigh the need to send your friends a text message,” Wallace said. “No text is worth injuring yourself or others by not paying attention to the road.” The awareness week and assembly are set to take place sometime in December or January Officer Powell thinks it’s a great idea, and we will have all of the assets available by involving the Bettendorf Police. T e x t i n g and driving is undoubtedly a huge temptation for teens. However, http:// stoptextsstopwrecks. org/ has a few tips to help teens refrain from induldging in their cell phones while in the car. Tip one: “Out of sight, out of mind.
When you’re in the car, put your phone where you can’t get it. A place where you won’t even be tempted to look for it. No phone. No texting.” Tip two: “Silence is golden. Turn those notifications off. The less you hear your phone, the less tempted you’ll be to
Are three letters really worth your
LIFE?
respond while you’re driving.” Tip three: “Designate a texter. Borrow thumbs from a friend. Or lend yours to
Behind the wheel, one text while driving equals four beers.
For more information check out: http://www.allstatefoundation.org/keepthe-drive
a friend. Passengers get the privilege of texting while in motion.” So there are ways to prevent texting and driving. It might not seem like a big deal at the time, but it can end up impairing someone’s life, or ending it.