The document discusses the dangers of texting while driving, highlighting that it is significantly more distracting than other cell phone activities and increases crash risk dramatically. Statistics show that texting drivers are six times more likely to cause an accident than those who are intoxicated, with cell phone usage contributing to a notable percentage of traffic fatalities, especially among teenagers. Despite awareness campaigns and legal penalties, many teens continue to engage in risky driving behaviors, including texting behind the wheel.

1. Image Courtesy of: arizonaguardianBy: Andrew Bassin

2. Hey mom, I’m gonna be a little late….Image Courtesy of lucamegh

3. Hey mom, I’m gonna be a little late….What happened? Everything ok?Image Courtesy of lucamegh

4. Hey mom, I’m gonna be a little late….What happened? Everything ok?I got into an accident as I was texting BobImage Courtesy of lucamegh

5. Hey mom, I’m gonna be a little late….What happened? Everything ok?I got into an accident as I was texting Bob:O glad u r ok… we’ll talk more when you get homeImage Courtesy of lucamegh

6. Don’t let this be youHey mom, I’m gonna be a little late….What happened? Everything ok?I got into an accident as I was texting Bob:O glad u r ok… we’ll talk more when you get homeImage Courtesy of lucamegh

7. For every 6 secondsof drive time, a driver sending or receiving a text message spends 4.6 of those seconds with their eyes off the road.Image Courtesy of: neilpomerleau

8. This makes textingthe most distracting of all cell phone related tasksImage Courtesy of: JoeyDigits

9. Texting while driving is about6 times more likely to result in an accident than driving while intoxicatedImage Courtesy of Dugfresh

10. Image Courtesy of: susankinidahoTextingwhile driving increases crash risk 23-fold

11. Image Courtesy of: GriDDBy contrast, talkingon a cell phone, represented an increased risk of only 1.3 times that of a non-distracted driver

12. Image Courtesy of: GriDDMore than 112 million people use cell phones in the U.S., and an estimated 85% of them use their phones while driving.Aa

13. Image Courtesy of: nobleupEach year 21% of fatal car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 were the result of cell phone usage

14. Image Courtesy of: SoxIn18Despite the risks, the majority of teen drivers ignorecell phone driving restrictions

15. Image Courtesy of: mivoxIn 2002, the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis calculated that 6,000 people die each year as a result of using cellphones while driving

16. They estimated that another 500,000are injuredImage Courtesy of: peacockcards

17. Image Courtesy of: Car and Driver – in sourcesCar and Driver study compares reaction times of ``Reading, Texting and Impaired``

18. It is not worth the consequencesImage Courtesy of: grilled cheeseIt is againstthe law

19. Image Courtesy of: GnerkIf you’re caught talking or texting while driving, you could face a $500 fine… if you put someone else at risk you could receive up to $1,000fine

20. Image Courtesy of: Angeles Xtrae-zineOver 60% of American teens admit to riskydriving, and nearly half of those thatadmit to risky driving also admit to text messaging behind the wheel

21. The Auto-Reply application will help change the texting habits that lead to dangerous driving. Image Courtesy of: PMC 1stPix

22. Image Courtesy of: Marshall AstorREMEMBERYoucanstoptexting and driving

23. Images Courtesy of: annputputPut It Down is a campaign similar to that of MADD, spreading information about texting and driving – below is one of their awareness advertisements.

24. Think you have the texting and driving thing down? You do NOTSave a life—maybe even your own. Sign Oprah's No Phone Zone pledgeImage Courtesy of: M1che11eM

25. Image Courtesy of: ~FreeBirD®~We have a long road ahead… for that drive, can you stay off your phone?

26. Thank You and Drive SafelyThere is a light at the end of the tunnelImage Courtesy of: jhh510110...

27. Sources of Information and Interesting ArticlesImage Courtesy of: gl0ucesterhttp://www.caranddriver.com/features/09q2/texting_while_driving_how_dangerous_is_it_-featurehttp://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2008/09/22/texting-driving.htmlhttp://handsfreeinfo.com/canadian-cell-phone-law-updateshttp://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20100924/texting-while-driving-in-the-us-100926/http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2009/07/28/texting-while-driving-more-dangerous-than-being-drunk.aspxhttp://www.thetelecomblog.com/2010/09/13/texting-while-driving-how-dangerous-is-it/

28. All images are licensed under the Creative Commons Non-Commercial Share-Alike 3.0 agreement, and sourced from Flickr.Image Courtesy of: Antorip