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February 13, 2013

Texting while driving is unsafe

The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — Editor, The Transcript:

People who think they can safely text and drive are really starting to get on my last nerve. Within the last year, I personally know of four people who have been directly affected by careless people who thought they could text and drive.

While I agree texting is a very convenient mode of communication, people have no business attempting such an act while driving a vehicle. I do not know if you have noticed, but most people who text are completely absorbed by their cell phones. Their face is practically a part of the cell phone. Attempting to text to drive is, therefore, ridiculous.

More to the point, a fraternity brother of mine was riding a bike on the University of Oklahoma campus and was completely run over by a girl who was speeding and texting at the same time. He had no serious injuries, but the bike was inoperable and he suffered some large scratches on his legs and arms.

Another acquaintance of mine was recently in a serious wreck that totaled her car, a result of his attempt to text while driving.

During the Christmas holidays a young high school girl was attempting to text and drive when she started drifting into another lane and almost ran into my mother.

The worst of all my recent experiences with the special few and gifted who think that they can text and drive was when my fiancee was hit while she was walking across a pedestrian crosswalk. That was the last straw for me.

That being said, I propose that there be more serious punishments and enforcement added to the current laws concerning those who think they can text and drive. These punishments could include fines, suspension of driver’s license, loss of driver’s license, jail time, etc.

After witnessing the carelessness of others attempting to text and drive, I urge that measures be taken to discourage it completely. It is hard to deny that people who attempt to text and drive are a threat to everyone around them. Also, it is a very dangerous habit that needs to be dealt with.

Thank you for your consideration. I am sure I speak for many others when I say actions would be appreciated.

ROBBY HARE

Norman

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