When you think about distracted driving, what comes to mind?
• Texting…
• Talking on the phone…
• Putting on makeup in the rearview mirror…
But do you know just how dangerous distracted driving really is?
The fear is not that you might get into a little fender bender. The reality is that if you become distracted while you drive, you are likely to take lives – including your own.
In fact, distracted driving is the #1 cause of death for teens. And here’s why:
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When you talk on the phone while driving, you are 1.3 times more likely to get into an accident.
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When you reach for something while driving, taking even one hand off the wheel, you are 1.4 times more likely to get into an accident.
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When you dial a phone number while driving, you are 2.8 times more likely to get into an accident.
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When you drink and drive, you are 7 times more likely to get into an accident.
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When you text while driving, you are 20 times more likely to get into an accident.
You read that right.
When you text and drive, you are at an even greater risk of getting into an accident than when you drink and drive! That is nearly 3 times the risk of drinking and driving.
So, do yourself a favor, don’t text and drive. Put down the phone, keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. Your life — and the lives of others — is too precious to risk for a text.
Don’t punctuate your life. :-) Drive safe!
Brought to you by Next Step Academy — the world’s newest school for life skills.
To take the complete Distracted Driving course, visit NextStepAcademy.com