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Texting is an important way of communicating in this day and age, but using it at the wrong time can end anybody’s life, whether it be a stranger or someone we hold dear.

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Let us prevent these chains of unfortunate events by being more patient and careful of where we place our attention so that the surprise Tracy so abruptly receives is a pleasant one. Instead of putting all our efforts on reassuring others of what we are doing, we should be actually be more aware of our surroundings at all times.

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Tracy surely didn’t know that this little action could lead to such tragedy. Who knew she would never celebrate her birthday again, simply because of a single text? By avoiding texting and driving, her life could have been saved just like yours could be.

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When tracing our way back to Tracy’s tree, one realises this tragedy could have been avoided if her gaze had not strayed from the road…

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When tracing our way back to Tracy’s tree, one realises this tragedy could have been avoided if her gaze had not strayed from the road…

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Noeli and Jimin

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As you can see, Tracy is now dead. We can also see that the world’s average IQ is now higher. Don’t be selfish, don’t be like Tracy.

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How about we switch the roles now, would you want your birthday party to be celebrated at the cemetery?

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Your mother always warned you about drinking and driving, but when you received her grocery list text in the car, did she know she was endangering you even more? According to postdam.edu, in recent years the number of accidents caused by intoxicated drivers have diminished more than half while the amount of non-intoxicated drivers have rised to an astonishing degree. This is a growing epidemic concerning not only teens but adults too and needs t be addressed immediately. Furthermore, texting while driving, as is stated by Harvard Center for Risk Analysis study, kills over 3000 drivers annually from a quick glance at their phone. The soft buzz from your phone may soon be replaced by the screeching sirens of an ambulance.

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Sure, you have been told about the risk of texting and driving, but you will continue to do it, because how could the high probability of an accident possibly affect you? Well, I have some bad news for you, my friend, the government is putting their stand in this mess of a situation and they are now imposing fines on those who dare to drive while texting. In fact, this irresponsible act could cost you up to a thousand dollar in fines on top of three demerits points. If you are up to being financial drained and being one step closer to having your driver’s license taken away, you are in luck. You see, the government is doing a public service announcement by augmenting the financial burden of the fines and it is working! The charges for driving while texting have slowly diminished over the years. While the monetary consequences may vary from province to province, you probably would not want to explain why you have a fine to your parents.

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Texting and driving, not so necessary is it?

Texting while driving has always been a severe case on the roads due to the dangerous effects it may have on the driver’s attention. We are all aware that distracted driving is a threat to the lives of others and nevertheless your own. According to a Harvard Center for Risk Analysis study, 3000 deaths as well as more than 300 000 injuries occurred because of this dangerous act in cars and in trucks. National Highway Traffic safety Administration reported that driving under the influence of alcohol is a sixth less dangerous than driving while texting. This issue has clearly gotten out of hand. According to the federal agency, when sending or receiving a text, your eyes go out of concentration for about 5 seconds. This means that if you are going at the speed of around 90 km/h, you are blindly driving the length of a football field. It is absurd that we’ve gotten to the point where a simple text is valued more than the lives around is as well as our own. It is up to every single one of us to take a hold of what we do in our car. It starts by you.

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Text driving a bigger threat?

Texting or even glancing at your phone can be very dangerouse while your on the road. Not only you are risking your life, but also the life of others. Beileve it or not, text driving can even be more dangerouse then drunk driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it is six times more dangerouse to drive when you have consumed a big amount of alcohol then responding to a certain text. As explained, this situation results enormous threats. Also, According to à Harvard center for Risk Analysis study, 3,000 deaths and 330,00 injuries accure per year due to just one look at your electronic device. Furthermore, it is proven from The federal angency reports that it only takes 4.6 seconds for the driver to send or receive a text which is not to much to cause an accedent. Cant you beileve it? Only this small amount of seconds can create a big threat.

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Road to your destination or  to the end?

It is known that texting while drivinng is a danger to our lives and the lives of others, but the mesures taken towards these cases are not taken seriously. Something so innocent like looking down at your phone for even two seconds can end up turning into a life threatning situation. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers distracted by a text have a sixth more chances of crashing than those who drive impaired. Close your eyes, imagine being with a driver who is texting while driving, isn't it stressful? Another study by Harvard center for Risk Analysis said that 3000 deaths occur and 110 times more injuries than deaths every year. While receiving a text, your eyes are taken away from the sight of the road for around 5 seconds while going around 90 km/h on the road which is almost like driving through a football field reports the federal agency. Accidents take place every day and are often unexpected. Concentrate on the road, the text can wait.

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Two fingers away from death

Can texting while driving be more damaging then drunk driving?

While more than half of death rates caused by drunk driving on the road have dropped since 1982, non-alcoholic fatalities have jumped as much as 78% in that same time frame.

Thinking about texting and driving, teens come to our minds. Although this may be true, almost half of adults admit looking at their phone while driving. This may shock you but drivers that use their phones while on the road are 23 times more at risk of getting involved in a car crash than non-texting drivers. Studies from “The federal agency” say that the average texting driver look at their phone for 4.6 seconds which equivalents a whole football field on a regular speed. 4.6 seconds is enough time for you to run a red light or miss your stop sing potentially getting you involved in any sort of accident on the road. It is important to follow the law not only for your safety but for the safety of the people around you. Every year this crisis takes the life of 3,000 people and injures 330,000 according to a “Harvard Center for Risk Analysis study”. Do you want to be part of these statistics?

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Driving towards death, not home

Nowadays, texting while driving is slowly replacing drunk driving, and as we all know, drunk driving can lead to major consequences like death, but do we know the consequences of texting and driving.  Texting-related accidents can also cause considerable injuries and even cause death. According to the NHSTA, drunk driving is actually six times less risky than looking down at your phone while you are driving.  Did you thought it was the opposite? When you answer to a text, your eyes are not looking at the road for approximately five seconds. If you are driving around 90km/h, you are travelling a range of 360 feet with your eyes close!(potsdam.edu) Can you imagine yourself driving like that? In a new study executed by the Havard Center for Risk Analysis, every year, 3000 people die in texting-related fatalaties. Your death is just a finger away! What will you do : drive safely home or drive dangerously to your death?

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Is your life worth less than a text?

In the moment, picking up your phone to answer a friend’s text may seem harmless, but the consequences of those few seconds of distraction can be disastrous. According to an article posted by potsdam.edu, texting at the wheel is now the primary cause of death for drivers. 3000 people die on average every year. In fact, contrary to popular belief, texting is six times more dangerous than being drunk. Of course, texting isn’t only an issue for teen drivers. Studies show almost half of adults look at their phones while they’re at the wheel. How many of these distracted drivers are on the road right now? They need to be made aware of the consequences, before they become another statistic.

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Taking the highway to death
Most people these days downplay the impact of texting and driving. The amount of time it takes to check your texts, is the amount of time left before your death. As stated in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the level of dangerousness is six times higher for drivers who text while driving, than for drivers who drive intoxicated. So as you can see, texting and driving has become a huge problem in our society. It has been proven by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis that 330,000 people per year die due to texting in their vehicules. In addition, just like the article “Driving while Texting Six Times More Dangerous than Driving while Drunk” by potsdam metions, very little people are aware of the problem. So how close are you from death?

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Texting and driving: a bigger problem than drunk driving

We all know that texting and driving can cause severe accidents and can have strong negative impacts on many drivers. Yet, the majority of us still glance at our phones while driving. Why? As discussed in a Potsdam article, although we are experiencing a major improvement facing alcohol-related traffic crash deaths, another problem has occurred and it is a problem we are not sufficiently aware of and need to begin accessing; texting related traffic fatalities. Despite the fact that deaths caused by drunk driving have dropped 52%, we need to acknowledge that non-alcohol traffic fatalities have increased 78% in the meantime. Texting in a vehicle causes over 3 000 deaths and 330 000 injuries per year and has now become the main explanation of tragic teenage driver’s deaths. However, the problem isn’t only with young drivers. Close to 50% of adult drivers admit to making the same mistake youngsters make. Plus, it is significantly more possible for a person texting while driving to cause an accident then non-texting drivers. In spite of all the talk about the problems of this situation, according to many surveys mentioned in a Potsdam article, the majority of drivers agree that there should be laws and/or regulations forbidding any type of cellular use while driving. So, if more than 80 % of drivers recognize that texting and driving can have deadly repercussions, why does it still happen constantly? How is it that we are able to recognize that this is a dangerous action, but yet still glance at our phones and risk our lives and those of others constantly?

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Texting while driving… Is it really worth it?

Today’s society needs continually to be on their phone even while driving. Looking at your texts when you’re driving may seem naturel to you, but do you really know the consequences that this could cause you? According to a Harvard Center for Risk Analysis study, using an electronic devices while driving causes over 3 000 deaths and 330 000 injuries a year. In addition, the Ontarian government stated that conducting a vehicle under the influence of alcohol is 6 times less dangerous than texting and driving. Sadly, the increasement of the possibility of being in a car accident while the driver is texting keeps growing and today, the statistic is almost to 25% based on the article Driving while Texting Six Times More Dangerous than Driving while Drunk. If you think about it, in a couple of years, the statistic will be at 50% and maybe even more so next time, be aware of the major impact that a single distraction to your phone can take one of your friends or maybe your life away.

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Distracted driving kills

While many neglect the dangers of texting while driving, only a few realize that this simple action could lead to tragedy. In fact, as reported by a Harvard Center for Risk Analysis study, each year, more than 3,000 deaths occur by getting distracted by a cellular device while driving. This problem also leads to around 330,000 injuries every year. Isn’t that shocking? Drivers who use their cellphone often ignore that they are 25 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than those who don’t (Potsdam Edu). In addition,  according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), looking down at your phone while driving for only five seconds is the equivalent to crossing a football field without looking. Scary, right? Next time you want to glance at your phone while driving, ask yourself if a single text is really worth risking your life.

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Texting and driving has started to become an important problem on our roads. Tons of lives have been wasted and there’s more to come. This is why measures must be taken to prevent other fatal accidents. Almost half of the adults admitted to be using their cellphones to text while driving (Potsdam.edu). This is an enormous amount of people! Due to a new provincial legislation starting this fall, drivers who disobey the texting rule will have the obligation to pay a fine of not less than 1000$ and will lose 3 demerit points (Robert Benzie). The Ontarian government thinks it is the best short-term solution. Some of you might think it’s a bit harsh, but facing the fact that it can be up to 6 times more dangerous than driving your car under the influence of alcohol (NHTSA), it is a necessary step. Be careful, it is not a banal issue, everybody should start adopting a safe drive.

Cassandra Morency

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The Road Ahead

We are all aware of the many car accidents that occur every year on our roads but, did you know that one of the biggest reasons for those accidents has become texting and driving? Texting while driving can have life changing consequences for you, your passengers and those around you. According to potsdam.edu, drivers who text while on the road, are 23 times more likely to have an accident. Isn’t that shocking? Based on the same article, texting while driving has become the most common reason for accidents and fatalities. Another study done by Harvard Center of Risk Analysis determined that 3000 deaths and 330 000 injuries were caused by drivers sending messages with their phone while operating a moving vehicle over the course of a year. Would you want to be responsible for killing someone? Of course not! We should all put our phones away and focus on our future and the road ahead.

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Texting and dying? What’s the link?

Texting while driving has tremendous consequences that are too often underrated and ignored by us, young adults who are too eager to be behing the wheel..  We all think it is primordial to answer immediately a text from our friends, but you might change your mind after knowing the following repercussions…. Indeed, according to a Harvard Center for Risk Analysis study, using a cellular device while conducting your vehicle causes more than 3,000 deaths and an additional 330, 000 injured people a year. Also, based on the article Driving while Texting Six Times More Dangerous than Driving while Drunk, if you text while driving, you are increasing of almost 25% the possibility of being in an accident than if you were not. This phenomenon is totally understandable according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), since every time you look down at your cellphone when receiving or sending a text takes as long as if you were driving without watching an entire football’s distance! Isn’t it shocking? Who thought a quick glance at your text could lead you so close to death…

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Drinking vs texting. What’s worse?

We all heard about the deathly consequences of drunk driving. These days, however, texting while driving is proved to be a bigger problem on the roads. According to a Harvard Center for Risk Analysis study, driving while texting has become the first cause of accidents and deaths of teenage drivers, taking the place driving while intoxicated. The same study demonstrated that every year, thousands get injured because a driver was texting, and about 10% of those result in death. Isn’t it terrible? In addition, based on the article «Driving while Texting Six Times More Dangerous than Driving while Drunk» from the website «potsdam.edu», it is six times riskier to drive while texting than to drive while under the influence of alcohol. Next time you decide to take the wheel and text, think about your life first.

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Do you want to be a murderer?

We are the generation known to be always on our phones, even while we are in class, at the dinner table or, sadly, behind the wheel of our car. Texting and driving can be the cause of many accidents, including your own death or the one of the little girl crossing the street. In fact, according to the Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Vince Hawkes, distracted driving has caused the death of almost 80 person and that only in 2013. He also affirms that in the same year, these kind of accident caused 19,000 charges. Can you imagine that a lot of those lives could have been saved and most of these accidents could have been avoided if only the drivers weren’t texting? According to the federal agency, if you send a text message, no matter how important it is, you are not looking at the road for an average of almost 5 seconds, this being the time it takes to drive thru a football field while driving at 55 mph. So the next time you’ll think of texting behind the wheel because it “won’t be long”, remember that you actually have the time to kill someone. Maybe we should all make the effort of leaving our phones alone, at least while we drive, to be able to live without the death of someone on our conscience.

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Although texting while driving is a topic that we speak about often today

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What are you focusing on?

Many people who have already texted while behind the wheel claim that they are experienced drivers who don’t require both eyes on the road at all times. However, these people don’t realize that the moment their focus becomes their phone, they automatically become a safety hazard for not only themselves but for everyone surrounding them. According to reports from the federal agency, texting requires a person to look down on their phone for nearly 5 seconds. Try closing your eyes for 5 seconds and imagine yourself driving on a busy highway. Scary, right? Another study conducted by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis study reports that texting while driving results in more than 3000 deaths, making these drivers nearly 25 times more vulnerable to crash related accidents than drivers who don’t text and drive. Although there may be more emphasis on driving while intoxicated, it is surprisingly 6 times more dangerous to text and drive than to drive while drunk claims the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Think about it, would you put many lives in danger including yours for one simple text?

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Texting and driving, is it worth the consequences?

Some people have an urge to check their phone as soon as they hear it ringing, but if that urge pulls your attention off the road, you can face enormous legal fines. According to transportation minister Steven Del Duca, Texting and driving should be enforced more severely with three demerit points and fines going up to a thousand dollars. Del Duca said he wanted the people to see how reckless it is to text and drive; this is why he enforced the toughest anti-texting-and-driving laws in Canada. Isn’t that incredible? He has also said that teenage drivers are especially prone to be texting and driving, making those large fines a lot more relevant. And you, would you be ready to face those fines that could have been avoided by waiting a couple of minutes more before replying?

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The text that couldn’t wait

The popularity of cell phones has had some unintended and sometimes deadly consequences. An alarming number of accidents are unfortunately linked to distracted driving, resulting in injury and loss of life. According to a Harvard study, people who text and drive are 23 times more likely to get in an accident than those who don’t. Also according to the same study, texting while in a moving vehicle has caused more than 3000 deaths and over 300 000 injuries this year! If that isn’t enough, the federal agency reports that a driver who sends or receives a text is distracted for about 5 seconds, which going 90 km/h, is like driving across a football field, but with your eyes closed. Accidents like these happen every day and they’re always unexpected, so be safe and don’t let your family wonder why the text just couldn’t wait.