Tuesday, May 21, 2013

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Do teens understand the dangers of texting and driving?
Posted: 09.21.2010 at 1:46 PM
Updated: 09.22.2010 at 5:55 AM
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A new study shows few teens find texting and driving as severe as drunk driving
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State Farm Insurance surveyed about 700 teens about the dangers of texting and driving versus drinking and driving

ALBANY, GA -- As a federal Department of Transportation summit on distracted driving is taking place in Washington D.C., a new survey shows teens don’t understand that texting and driving can be just as severe as drunk driving.

Majority of the 14 to 17-year-olds surveyed agree that drunk driving could be fatal, but only about 36% of that same group believes texting and driving could lead to death.

Officials say teens don’t understand the dangers, because they’ve never lived without the technology.

Dougherty County Police Lieutenant Tom Jackson say the more a phone can do, the more dangerous it is. “They’re texting, they're emailing, they're two-waying, and they may even be using them for GPS so it’s become a major distraction within the vehicle,” says Jackson.

Officials say texting and driving is just as deadly as driving drunk because it diverts your attention.

Share your opinion
Are younger drivers getting the message about the dangers of texting and driving?

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