Rick Pinsonneault, a Driver Education Instructor in Bennington, Vermont teaches that texting while driving is the most serious safety concern facing not only teens, but all of us who drive the roads. “Keeping eyes on the road is crucial to driving and very soon texting while driving will be banned in all states,” said Pinsonneault. “It’s such a major issue right now that I think law enforcement has to step up to the plate to help get the word out and many of them are.”
With the advances in smartphone technology replacing some of the more frequent uses of home computer functions such as reading and sending email, using social networks, even shopping and banking, we are more connected to our cellphones than ever before. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, texting while driving is 6 times more dangerous than driving while intoxicated and reading a text message while driving at 55 mph is the equivalent of driving the length of a football field while blindfolded.
Most student drivers are 16 to 17 years old and being teenagers they are going to do what they see their parents do. If their parents are texting or reading text while driving so will their children. Many people have been through a fast food drive through and then eat while driving. While this is not a great idea, it still isn’t as dangerous as texting while driving according to the experts. “It [texting while driving] takes your eyes off the road, it takes brain function to concentrate on reading or creating a text, it ties your hands up unless you’re using a hands-free set up, and if you are hands-free, your brain is still tied up trying to communicate or receive a message,” Pinsonneault adds.
The next couple of years will see a tightening of laws around texting as well as talking on a hand-held device while driving. A handful of states have already banned speaking on a cellphone while driving.
Rick Pinsonneault is the founder of Pinsonneault Driving School in Bennington, VT. To learn more about Rick, go to: http://www.pinsonneaultdrivingschool.com.