Young drivers learn about texting dangers before hitting the road

KINSTON, N.C. - Teenagers take texting behind the wheel to a whole new level

By: Amy Kibler | WNCT-On Your Side
Published: May 11, 2010

KINSTON, N.C. - No one denies the danger with texting and driving. But is the new law banning that really working? And is it cutting down on accidents?
The highway patrol says it's a violation that's extremely difficult to enforce—let alone spot—so the next best strategy is to target drivers in training early before they hit the road.
Highway patrol taught Driver's Ed at North Lenoir High School.
They “encouraged” students to text while driving. And what followed were bumps, uncontrollable turns and frustrations from beginning drivers.
The purpose was to make teens aware of how dangerous texting behind the wheel is through hands-on texting while driving clinics.
“It's so important for your full attention to be on your driving,” said Highway Patrol’s Sgt. Timothy Sinclair. “Not only for you but as well as the other drivers out there. Just that split second of looking at the phones and trying to type can be the difference in life and death."
Sgt. Sinclair says texting remains one of the top causes of car crashes in our state.
But safety experts argue, while talking on a cell phone could quadruple your risk of an accident---texting could increase the risk by eight.
Lenoir county's highway patrol plan to take the course to every high school in Lenoir and Duplin county before the end of the school year---parents are giving the “horn” of approval.
More than half of the country now bans texting while driving. Still, AAA estimates texting is the cause of 6,000 fatal accidents each year.