Texting-induced Injuries on the Rise

UWIRE This story was written by Rachel Leamon, The Daily Free Press (Boston U.)
Photo by Flickr's 'b_d_solis'

(U-WIRE) BOSTON - One in five Britons has suffered an injury while simultaneously walking and text messaging in the last year, according to a British study. However, SMS snafus are also popping up stateside on sidewalks and behind the wheel.

Last week, a British information directory launched a pilot project to protect people who were texting while walking by installing bumper guards on lampposts.

The large white bumper guards call attention to the text-and-transportation problem that causes injuries ranging from bruises to broken noses, said Lucy Abell, spokeswoman for Living Streets, a British charity that focuses on reducing traffic and keeping the streets clean and safe.

"There are no plans by local councils to permanently put bumpers on the streets -- it was more to highlight the issue," Abell said.

Across the pond, Washington and New Jersey passed laws that prohibit handheld cell phone use while driving last year and 16 other states, including Massachusetts, are considering similar legislation.

A US News & World Report article cited a Nationwide Insurance study, which estimated that 20 percent of drivers send or receive text messages behind the wheel. Among 18-to-24-year-olds, 66 percent admitted to texting while driving, the study states.

Melanie Brown, a senior at Harvey High School in Harvey Station, New Brunswick, said she lost a classmate in a car accident last September because he was texting while driving.

"I have a small graduating class of 45 so everyone knew him and it hit us really hard," she said.

Brown said she hopes spreading awareness of the dangers of texting through a Facebook group advocating against texting while driving so that others will realize how serious the issue is.

"It's not a game," she said. "By doing this you could take your own life or the lives of innocent people."

In November, the Etiquette and Leadership Institute sponsored a national "Teens Don't Text and Drive Week."
Institute founder Debra Lassiter said students understand how dangerous the practice can be.

"Many of the students I talked to have been involved in or had friends involved in accidents while texting and driving, so they understand how dangerous it can be," she said.
Boston University freshman Lori Schmon said drivers who focus on their cell phone screen and not the road are irresponsible.

"I'm not just concerned with the issue of driving and texting, but the general recklessness of drivers these days makes me angry," she said.

Boston University sophomore Tava Koli said a ban would not stop her from texting while driving.

"It would be hard to catch anyone since you have to be right next to the car window to even see the phone," she said.