When one thinks of dangers from driving, drunks tend to come to mind. Not to fellow teen Patrick Sims, an eighteen year old who killed a bicyclist in 2005. How? Patrick was texting behind the wheel, rather than paying attention to the road and his surroundings. Jail time and guilt are his punishment. While some states have taken steps to banning this dangerous, accident causing distraction, all states should follow to progress prevention.

The distraction involved in sending a text message is what makes it dangerous. Justin McNaull, director of state relations for AAA, says it like this: “Texting is among the most dangerous activities because it involves taking your eyes and attention off the roadway.” Sending a text usually takes a driver about five seconds; this more than doubles the chance of an accident. The number of drivers texting and driving is rapidly increasing. Be different; do not add to the statistics.

Millions of accidents occur every year, and cell phone usage relates to countless. Talking or texting cause about one-point-six million wrecks, or twenty-eight percent, yearly. Sending a text, no matter how small, requires focus elsewhere. It also takes driver’s hands off the wheel. Every two seconds, that other attention doubles the chances of an accident. As a whole, texting drivers are twenty-three-point two times more likely to cause a crash. Teens especially seem to increase that number. Just like playing with fire, texting and driving is bound to cause an accident.

Despite the fact that driving and texting most likely will never be one-hundred percent gone, it can be prevented. Passengers, speak up! Is staying quiet worth the risk? Drivers, turn phones off before getting into the car, to avoid replying to messages. “People have a real desire to be connected and have the immediate ability to keep in touch with friends and family. Giving up texting and talking on the phone while driving is hard,” is the way Justin McNaull puts it. While it may be difficult to stop, it is completely preventable.

Though multiple states have completely banned texting while driving, all states should follow since it is distracting and accident prone, but preventable. Teen Patrick Sims spent time in jail and is now faced with the guilt of killing a bicyclist because he was looking at his cell phone and not the road. Driving and texting is not a safe, practical habit that ought to be banned to save lives. Stay out of the gloomy statistics. Stay off the phone.