Do Not Text and Drive Pledge
A dangerous epidemic is spreading across America that causes drivers to not pay attention for at least five seconds at a time, and it is called texting while driving. In any given day in the United States, a minimum of 660,000 American drivers are attempting to use their phone while driving. Each year, nearly 390,000 injuries occur from accidents that are caused by texting while driving. In 2017, 9% of all drivers involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted. Another element that makes texting while driving very dangerous is the number of inexperienced teen drivers that are texting while driving. States have designed legislation to attempt to reduce the number of car accidents caused by texting while driving each year. However, each American must take responsibility for this issue and make an effort to make our roads safer. It is time for Americans to take the pledge below seriously and reduce the number of unnecessary car accidents that could potentially be avoided each year.
Do Not Text and Drive Pledge
By signing this pledge, I agree to the following statements:
- I pledge to not text and drive because texting takes my attention away from driving for five seconds, which while traveling at 55 mph is enough time to travel the full length of a football field.
- I pledge to not text and drive because texting while driving causes at least a 400 percent increase in time that I spend with my eyes not on the road.
- I pledge to not text and drive because at least 11 teens die every day from avoidable car accidents caused by texting while driving.
- I pledge to not text and drive because distracted driving kills more than 3,300 people and injures approximately 421,000 people each year.
- I pledge to not text and drive because at least 20 percent of teens and 10 percent of parents actively admit that they have lengthy conversations while driving.
- I pledge to not text and drive because texting or using a hand-held cell phone while driving is one of the top causes of car accidents in the United States.
- I pledge to not text and drive because 8% of drivers involved in fatal crashes between ages 15-19 were reported as distracted drivers.
- I pledge to not text and drive because in 2017, there were almost 600 combined pedestrians and cyclists killed in distracted driving-related crashes.
- I pledge to not text and drive because texting while driving is the equivalent of driving after having four beers.
- I pledge to not text and drive because texting while driving ends and ruins lives daily, and I will NOT be a part of this fast-growing epidemic.
By signing this pledge, I promise to adhere to the above points and also to encourage my friends and family members to engage in the same responsible behavior. I also pledge to continue to educate those around me about the dangers of distracted driving. Lastly, I pledge not to answer my hand-held cell phone, send a text message, or talk on speakerphone while driving.
