Texting while driving

  The state of Ohio is one of the few states in America that doesn't have a law banning people from texting and driving. Sending a receiving text messages on a cell phone has been a popular hobby as of late amongst people all over the world. It has even converted over to people continuing this entertainment while operating a moving vehicle.

  It's hard enough to drive normally, with your undivided attention because of all the distractions you have to encounter with, such as  people speeding and people walking out in the street. But now driver's aren't making it any better by texting and driving.

  A study conducted by Students Against Destructive Decisions revealed that sending text messages while driving leads the list as the biggest distraction while driving. Along with the study, the actual time you take to pick up a phone and read a text is dangerous as well.

  Senior Nick Phillips can attest to this statement. He once caught himself a few years ago in the act of texting and driving and almost sent himself into a terrible situation.

  "It was snowing a little and I was texting on my phone," said Phillips. "The next thing I know I look up and my truck is sliding off the side of the road. Then all of a sudden my truck hits a ditch and rolls."

  This accident didn't lead to any deaths or costly damage to anyone.

  "I wasn't wearing a seatbelt so I landed upside down in the passenger area and I wasn't hurt and didn't get cited for the accident by the police," said Phillips.

  These sorts of mishaps happen often, and the people involved aren't always so fortunate to escape from their accidents.

  The U.S. government has a website titled "Distraction.gov" designed to inform people of the dangerous results of people texting and driving.

  6,000 deaths and half a million injuries are caused by distracted drivers a year. While teenagers are texting, they spend about 10 percent of the time outside the driving lane that they're supposed to be in.

  Answering a text takes away your attention for about five seconds, which is enough time to travel the entire length of a football field. Almost 50 percent of all drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 are texting while driving.

  There are thousands of facts and statistics on this subject. Just like any other case, some people tend to ignore the reality of something when they don't want to break a certain habit.

  A study on the Cargurus Blog site showcases how many people still don't see the problem with texting and driving. Some drivers make the argument that if you ban people from texting and driving, you're limiting their communication.

  Others feel like their rights are being violated with bans and laws against this. Those who are against it say that there are other things people do to distract themselves while driving that don't have restrictions.

  Drivers argue that people eat and drive, dance, play around with the radio and some even try to read while driving.

  One individual even stated that it's ok to at least text while you're sitting at a red light or stop sign and doesn't see the problem with just reading a text message either.

  Alma Tennent is the Clerk of Court at the Muskingum County Court in Zanesville and feels strongly opposite on the subject of texting and driving being okay to do.

  "I feel like texting and driving is extremely dangerous," said Tennent.  "I see people on common streets and interstates texting and I just don't understand it."

  There is currently a legislative pending right now in Ohio. It is titled, "House Bill 99" and villages have banned texting and driving but if this is passed it will become a law in Ohio.

  "The only thing that still worried me [is that] with this law pending, I'm not sure it will completely stop people from texting and driving," said Tennent. "It will help but not put a total end to it."

  Senior Chad Foster is a resident in the New Jersey area and is aware of the emphasis that the state puts on people texting and driving.

  "Back home, points are actually taken off of your license if you are caught, texting and driving," said Foster. "I understand the punishment because texting and driving is nothing to play with and it's a habit that myself and others have to get out of."

Did you know...

...20 percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving?

...Of those killed in distracted-driving-related crashed, 995 involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction?

...In 2009, 5,474 people were killed in U.S. roadways and an estimated additional 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes that were reported to have involved distracted driving?

...The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers was the under-20 age group – 16 percent of all drivers younger than 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted while driving?