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Deonttye Nelson
UWRT 1102
Fran Voltz
Texting and Driving

Let me check my text messages really quick. I just got a message in my DM These
just some of the sayings that people say right before they are distracted by their cell phone, as a
message alert is showing across their phone screen. Unable to be attentive to the road ahead
because of the fact their eyes are piercing into the words that are being conveyed. Or is it really a
distraction? Is texting really a distraction from a driver that is traveling around? It truly makes
one wonder; texting and driving can could potentially cause you to get a fine, cause an accident,
or death.
I have to be honest I am usually that person no matter if Im at a red light or driving 70
MPH down a highway. I cannot resist the urge to pick up my cell phone and check my messages
or social media. Sometimes I dont even have to have notifications flashing across my phone
screen for me to just make sure I hadnt missed anything. But I also have to think about the harm
I could cause to myself or to someone else. There are currently 46 states that have banned the use
of texting while driving. Although depending on state and local government but one can be fined
for being caught texting by a law enforcer. The officer has the authority to cite an individual
solely because of texting and driving. Repeat offenses can cause points against your license and
also jail time depending on the jurisdiction. WSB-TV, a news station in Atlanta, GA reports an
article about a cop in Gwinnett County Georgia who has written 800 tickets in the year of 2013.

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Officer Jessie Myers has been quoted in saying if you do anything on your phone besides make
or receive a phone call, I will pull you over. Officer Myers has been known to catch phone
violators at traffic lights. He states At a red light, you're still driving. According to the law.
You're on a roadway, behind (the wheel of) a car, in charge of it, with a vehicle in drive." Makes
sense right? Even though youre at a stop light youre still operating the vehicle and you have
control of it. I would have to say that officer Myers makes a good argument.

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News station WCPO covered an a news segment about a fatal crash that took place. The above
picture was taking from a vehicle accident in Ohio back in 2014. The driver picked up her phone
while operating her vehicle when she struck another vehicle. The victim driving the other vehicle
was a six month pregnant women, who lost her baby from the impact. This is another example of
how your life can change in an instant. An unborn childs life has been token away due to
someone elses negligence.

A ticket violation is just minor consequence for not properly obeying the laws of texting
and driving. In the state of Alaska there is a 10,000 fine and a one year jail sentence for first
offenders. Which is by far one of the highest in the country. Of course it can result in a much
more serious and potentially deadly matter. Im sure like all the other drivers who have been
operating a vehicle for a while can agree, that we have to drive for ourselves and also the other
drivers around us. What that means is that we have to keep an eagles eye view of the cars in
front of us and also vehicles that may be a few feet ahead. I can remember a time when I was
driving up 85N to Greensboro, going to the Homecoming events at the North Carolina
Agricultural and Technical State University. It was a beautiful October day me and my friends
where just hanging out in anticipation of our destination. As we were driving I got a text message
from another friend that we were meeting in Greensboro that was going to join us in the fun. I
picked up my phone to look at the message when abruptly I heard the screeching of brakes from
the vehicle in front of me. Immediately I looked up and I placed both of my feet forcefully on my
brakes to keep my car from impacting the vehicle in front of me. Luckily, we did not impact the

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rear of the vehicle and the only damage that was done was to our hearts that was piercing
through our chest. That just goes to show that in a matter of seconds an accident can take place
and the outcome is unsure. We were lucky but some others didnt receive that same luck. WNCN
reported a woman in Belmont, NC was killed by a driver who was texting while she was behind
the wheel. Belinda Hudspeth was charged with second degree murder for the death of Lavon
Ramsey. Ms. Ramsey was 75 years old when she died and was on her way to a friends house
when she was killed. Hudspeth was charged with reckless driving, driving while impaired,
texting while driving, and driving without a valid license. She is currently serving prison time.
Alexis Summers also a pioneer in her community was killed because of texting and driving.
Alexiss vehicle ran into a tree killing her as she lost control of her car, trying to respond to a text
message. Ironically, the state of Pennsylvania had passed a law to ban texting while driving just
eight hours after the crash took place. One can only wonder if Alexis had in fact knew about this
law. And if she did know was it a warning to her from a higher power that she should obey the
law because it could be harmful to you. A woman named Ann Sanford was driving in North
Carolina. She was reportedly taking pictures of herself and posting them on Facebook. She then
made a status while driving quoted the song Happy, makes me Happy Police were called to the
scene of the fatal crash.
As you have read this, you should have a clear and painted picture in your mind, of the
harm that texting and driving can cause. Is that message you just saw flashing across your phone
screen honestly worth checking? You know the consequences that may occur if you do. The
possible fatal crash that could kill innocent lives because of your ignorant ass wants to look at
something that is distracting and of none importance. Think for a moment, youre driving down a
busy highway and you get a notification text on your phone from a friend, you reach for the

phone and suddenly youre involved in a fatal accident killing several lives, injuring others, and
causing significant amounts of damage to everyone in the accidents vehicles. Once you are
finally able to look at the message that you received that caused this catastrophe. Youre
suddenly in a pit of sorrow and depression because the message simply says Whats Up? It
honestly could have waited.

Works Cited

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Cook, Amanda. "Cop Claims Hes Issued Nearly 800 Tickets for Texting and Driving."20 Sept.
2013. Web. 20 Sept. 2013. <http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/cop-claims-hesissued-nearly-800-tickets-texting-a/nZ34P/>.
"NC Woman Charged with Murder, Texting in Wreck." WNCN, 9 Feb. 2014. Web. 6 Dec. 2015.
<http://wric.dsys1.worldnow.com/story/24675498/nc-woman-charged-with-murdertexting-in-wreck>.
Nichols, Mark. "2 out of Every 1,000 Accident in Southwestern Ohio Involve Texting and
Driving." WC, 22 July 2014. Web. <http://www.wcpo.com/news/technology/2-out-ofevery-1000-accidents-in-southwestern-ohio-involved-texting-while-driving>.