Y GentXt?
% of teens who use each method of
communication daily
60
50
40
2007
2008
2009
30
20
10
0
cell calls
email
talking
TEXTING
Things to know:
How many text messages do Americans send??
YEAR Number of text messages sent per month in US
2000: 14 million
2005: 10 Billion
2009: 135 BILLION
Things To Know:
•Motor vehicle accidents are
the leading cause of teen
deaths.
•One out of 5 16 year olds
will be in a crash
Statistics Top Ten - Causes of death in older teens.
Texting while Driving
•
•
•
•
•
•
Dialing
Emailing
Twitter
Texting (both reading and responding)
Updating social networking sites
Surfing the Web
The Problem
• 46% of teen drivers admit to texting while
driving
• #1 teen driving distraction
• VTII: 8-23 times increased risk of crash
• AAA: 50 times greater risk
• NSC: 200,000 (up to 1M) crashes due to
texting per year
The Problem
• PEW STUDY: 73% of teens admit to being in
a car when driver is texting.
• NOVICE DRIVER TEXTING STUDY: Driver’s
eyes off road 400% more time
GENTXTING TRIVIA: I C $$$$$
Many accidents caused by texting while driving
are “minor” with damage to the body of
one or more cars. What is the average cost
of an accident without injury?
A. Minimal, less than $100 per car
B. $100-$500 per car
C. About $1000 per car
D. Over $2000 per car
TEXTING TRIVIA: I C $$$$$
Most accidents caused by texting while driving
are “minor” with damage to the body of one
or more cars. What is the average cost of an
accident without injury?
D. Over $2000
The Problem: What is the cost?
• Possible or non-incapacitating Injury:
$26,000- $54,000
• Incapacitating injury: $67,000-$214,000
• Death: Over $1,000,000
Why is Texting and Driving Dangerous?
There are three types of distraction involved
while texting and driving:
• Eyes off Road: When you text and drive, you may
look at things but you won’t SEE them.
• Hands off Wheel: Swerving; Inability to
quickly steer away from unexpected hazards.
• Mind off driving: New research shows that
only one complex task can be done at a time.
Driving “Blind”
Driving “Blind”:
• One of the biggest problems with texting
while driving is something called “Inattention
Blindness.”
• Inattention blindness means you are looking
at something but you don’t actually see it.
•
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo
This is what you see undistracted…
This is what you see with the distraction of a cell phone…
OVER 50 RESEARCH STUDIES ON
CELL PHONE USE WHILE DRIVING
• Do not “see” 50% of objects on the road
• Slower speed to compensate for attention to
texting or talking.
• Slower braking time
• Drift in and out of lanes
• Forget to check mirrors and instruments
• At intersections, fail to look at stop lights and
to look to the right.
What you think you know… but don’t:
• “I can get better at texting while driving.”
You cannot get better at texting while
driving
• “I’m multitasking!”
If you are trying to do two complex
things at once, your brain automatically
switches between the two activities—
leaving one activity unattended.
• “It won’t happen to me”
Things to think about:
• You are not an exception…. Be AWARE of the
real risks.
• Be more focused with distracted drivers on
the roads around you!
• One crash affects many people, NOT just
you!!
How twd has affected others:
• Reggie Shaw, 19, was on his way to work
when he caused a car crash that killed two
men. He was texting his girlfriend …
• For the uncut version: YouTube, 1085 ECHO
10-85 Echo
-2009 Zero Fatalities
STRATEGIES
STOP
TEXT & DrIvE
G2GDrive, TTYL:
Strategies 4 Teens
“STOP. DROP. DRIVE.”
•
•
•
•
Turn your cell phone off, or to silent mode.
“Drop” your cell phone out of reach.
“Stop” driving. Pull into a safe area, then text.
Have a designated texter.
STRATEGIES:
CAN PARENTS INFLUENCE TEEN DRIVERS?
• Young driver survey: 66% of teens say their
parents can influence their use of a cell phone
while driving.
• Pew Internet Survey/ Gen tXt focus groups:
misconceptions about parents being
experienced drivers who can text and drive
safely
Strategies 4 Parents
• Be a good role model
• Encourage your teen to speak up
• Parent-teen contracts with enforced
consequences
• Cell phone blocker technology
• Advocate at State and local levels
• Advocate for insurance discounts
Strategies
“STOP. DROP, & DRIVE.”
BECAUSE…
It’s the LAW!!!
www.oklegislature.gov
Strategies: Cell Phone Blocking Technology
All allow 911, have auto reply-” I am driving”
1. Software tracks cell phone’s GPS; stores
messages ($5-$10/mo)
2. Software allows phone’s speaker to read aloud
and auto reply messages to respond hands free.
($3-$10/month)
3. Hardware device installed in car detects car
running ($99.95 one time)
– Recommended reading: David Pogue, New
York Times
BE THE NEW GENERATION!
• Support us in our mission to stop texting while
driving in our community.
– Call or email your state government officials to
urge them to change the laws
– Educate your friends, relatives, church groups
– Encourage your teens to join our group. We have
lots of exciting activities coming up.
– Learn more at www.mygentXt.org