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Fatal Choice; Texting While Driving

By Barbara Tubridy Lombardi

Fatal choice; Texting While Driving

A Eureka, Illinois teen was killed in a motor vehicle accident on Thursday, June 25, 2009. Alyssa Burns, 17 years old, was cresting a hill on County Road 800 North while traveling east. She must have realized she was in the left lane because she steered sharply to the right, over corrected and her SUV traveled into a ditch overturning several times. Information retrieved from her cell phone found that she was sending a text at the time of the accident and had just received a text message seconds prior. In addition to texting while driving, Alyssa was not wearing a seat belt.

Alyssa was the daughter of Rev. Joseph and Terri Burns. She was reported to be a model student and citizen, well liked by her teachers and friends. At the candlelight vigil organized by her friends, Marci Miller was quoted, 'If only she had been wearing a seat belt, I think that would have made a difference.' Well, Miss Miller…..that might make you feel better and your friends feel better but the truth of the matter is texting and driving don't mix.

Distracted drivers account for 80% of crashes in the USA according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And 60% of teenagers admit to texting while driving.

Driving While Intexticated is killing American teenagers and those who think they are still teenagers. I ask…..what is so important that it can't wait until you arrive at your destination? Isn't your life more important than whatever that text says?

Cell phone use laws vary from state to state but parents do have a weapon available to prevent their children from talking or texting while driving. Key2SafeDriving is a device that jams cell phone use while driving. For $50.00 plus a monthly service fee, you receive a key that once in use sends a signal to the cell phone rendering it useless until the key is removed. Sounds like a small price to pay to save your child's life.

Eureka High School parents, please let this be the last student in your school that makes this fatal choice.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Barbara Tubridy Lombardi

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on June 27, 2009 (boomark / email).