Everyone seems to recognize the dangers of talking on a mobile phone while driving, but an even more dangerous driving distraction has been growing. Over 236 million Americans now subscribe to wireless communication devices, and everyday more drivers are using them to text message from behind the wheel.

Anytime one’s hands leave the steering wheel, control is greatly diminished. A driver removing their eyes from the road to view a small screen represents an even greater risk.

New York became the first state to tackle distracted driving when it banned the use of hand-held phones. This restriction helped limit the physical distraction associated with using a phone while driving, and other states have since followed suit.

However, at the moment, the law does nothing to address text messaging. “Texting” and driving represent a lethal combination. The trend is most prevalent among our youngest and most inexperienced drivers. In fact, a survey by AAA and Seventeen magazine found that 50 percent of teens admitted to “texting” while driving.

But the problem is not limited to younger drivers. In a recent survey, 20 percent of drivers from 18 to 60 years of age also admitted to “texting” while driving.

Too many drivers now jeopardize others by leaving common sense at the curbside. Lawmakers need to catch-up with technology and close this dangerous loophole.

Editor’s note: As this issue went to press, legislators in many states including New York were weighing a text-messaging ban. For more information, log on to the Club’s Website at AAA.com/Gov.

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