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Your Alive -- Stay That Way! Texting and Driving!

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker King NC #228932

Texting Smily

 

Your Alive -- Stay That Way!  Texting and Driving!  A great new aspect has been added to the Drivers Ed Class at East Henderson High School here in Henderson County, NC.  The kids are getting to experience the danger of what can happen when being distracted by being shown through example.  They run through a test with a golf cart and orange traffic cones.  First without texting and than again by being distracted with a text message from a friend and a passenger talking to them.  The result on the second phase of the test is many more knocked over traffic cones, which make a point.

The Henderson County Sheriff's Office and a State Highway Patrol Trooper came to the school to help educate the students on the dangers of texting and driving.  So many tragedies and deaths have occured from being distracted while driving with one of the main culprets being cell phones.  They work with the kids in the classroom first talking with them about the safety of seatbelts, driving under the influence and proper use of cell phones.  Then they head outside to the golf carts and orange traffic cones.  The Drivers Ed teacher at East said the kids are also shown during Drivers Ed classes victims of wrecks caused from driving and texting and the other factors.

This sounds like a great added part to the Drivers Education Course and hopefully will have a positive impact on the kids and be followed in other schools as well.  The Times-News published an article on the class which you can read here.

From what I see happening out on the roads these days with cell phones I think many adults could benefit from the class as well.  Take care and have a safe day.

Posted by

Robin

Robin Dampier, Broker Assoc.
Realtor, e-Pro (internet savvy!)
Coldwell Banker King
Cell:  828-231-5069
Fax:  828-318-8666
"Welcome To Gorgeous Western NC"

Comments (19)

Dan Edward Phillips
Dan Edward Phillips - Eureka, CA
Realtor and Broker/Owner

Robin and Sue, excellent advice that needs to be repeated and repeated and.......................nice post!

Jul 20, 2010 05:59 PM
Elite Home Sales Team
Elite Home Sales Team OC - Corona del Mar, CA
A Tenacious and Skilled Real Estate Team

You know being an older guy I am not tempted to text while driving.  My car has blue tooth built in and I can answer the phone and I do.

Jul 20, 2010 06:55 PM
Carla Dimond
CATARRA - Mountain View, CA
(Silicon Valley)

I know it is a very bad habit and I try to only do it at red lights....

Jul 20, 2010 07:21 PM
Mike Mayer
Mike Mayer, Broker/Owner - i List For Less Realty, LLC - Lafayette, LA

It's not just children/adolescents texting, it's adults as well. And while I do spend an ample amount of time in a vehicle, and require the use of cellular technology in my day-to-day business, I'm all for laws restricting cell phone use and texting while operating a vehicle.

Jul 20, 2010 08:36 PM
Tish Lloyd
BlueCoast Realty Corporation - Wilmington, NC
Broker - Wilmington NC and Surrounding Beaches

Most of us fancy ourselves "excellent multi-taskers". The truth is, NOT when it comes to texting and driving! If it's so important that you have NEED to deal with it right then, then it's probably distressing and you shouldn't be driving anyway. Pull over, take care of business and live to help another family discover the joy of owning their own home!

Jul 21, 2010 12:24 AM
Robin Dampier REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker King - Hendersonville, NC
Hendersonville & Western NC Real Estate Source

Thank you everyone for your comments.  North Carolina prohibits all drivers from texting or reading text messages while a vehicle is in motion.  If caught they could face a fine of $100.00.

The sad thing, according to information compiled on nationwide.com there were 46,429 traffic crashes involving 15-19 years olds who weren't caught in the US.  Those crashes resulted in 81 fatalities and more than 8,000 injuries.

There are definitely a huge group of adults who don't set a good example.  It's amazing what you see people doing while driving.

Sue of Robin and Sue

Jul 21, 2010 03:14 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Sue and Robin so many are still not heeding this advice, and that is a shame as the end result could be deadly.

Jul 21, 2010 04:57 PM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

When I was in driver's ed many decades ago, we got to see those films of auto wrecks caused by alcohol impairment.

I had a friend in Houston on was trying to put a new CD into the CD player and dropped it on the floor. While driving 55 mph on the freeway. He reached down to get the CD and had an accident. He is no longer with us.

Jul 22, 2010 10:05 PM
Lizette Fitzpatrick
Lizette Realty - Richmond KY - Lexington, KY
Lizette Realty, Lexington KY MLS - Kentucky Homes

Isn't it funny that a few years ago the big hoopla was just that we were talking on our phones while driving? I might send a text if I were stopped in traffic or sitting at a light. It's dangerous out there!!! Hope you have a teriffic weekend!

Jul 23, 2010 03:31 AM
Robin Dampier REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker King - Hendersonville, NC
Hendersonville & Western NC Real Estate Source

Russel I'm sorry to hear about your friend.  I had a scare a while back just reaching onto the passenger seat to pick something up and almost went off the road.  I now do my best to keep both eyes glued out the front window while driving.  It can happen so fast.

Sue of Robin and Sue

Jul 23, 2010 04:59 PM
Robin Dampier REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker King - Hendersonville, NC
Hendersonville & Western NC Real Estate Source

Hi Lizette -- Yes, it is very dangerous out there and so many distractions.  Have a great weekend as well and thanks for stopping by.

Sue of Robin and Sue

Jul 23, 2010 05:00 PM
Gregory Bain
Mezzina Real Estate & Insurance - Little Egg Harbor, NJ
For Homes on the Jersey Shore

I would like to get in the habit of turning off the cell phone while driving or riding in a car. I see police talking on the cell phone in their cruiser, young girls tail gating me talking on the phone and putting on make-up. Hands Free doesn't seem to help - I still miss my turn and need to double back.

Jul 24, 2010 03:13 AM
Robin Dampier REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker King - Hendersonville, NC
Hendersonville & Western NC Real Estate Source

Gregory I'm with you.  I put the darn thing where I can't get at in so that if it rings and I want to know who it is I have to pull over to find out.  It's appalling what you see people doing while driving and oh so dangerous.  For me there's no phone call that important that it can't wait a minute or two.  Thanks for stopping by.

Sue of Robin and Sue

Jul 24, 2010 04:00 AM
Phillip Richardson
Energy Pros - Hendersonville, NC

I will talk on my hands free device while driving, but never text

Jul 25, 2010 05:09 AM
Robin Dampier REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker King - Hendersonville, NC
Hendersonville & Western NC Real Estate Source

Hi Phillip -- The blue tooth is fine as long as the conversation isn't distracting.  How the kids or anyone can be dexterous enough to drive and text is beyond me.  I'd have to be looking at the letters/numbers.

Sue of Robin and Sue

Jul 25, 2010 01:19 PM
Rick Wellington
Fonville Morisey - Raleigh, NC

I see people swerving while they are driving and texting all the time. I am surprised there are not more accidents.

Jul 27, 2010 12:10 PM
Robin Dampier REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker King - Hendersonville, NC
Hendersonville & Western NC Real Estate Source

Hi Rick -- it's like an epidemic and you have to be on your guard all the time looking for the "swervers".

Sue of Robin and Sue

Jul 27, 2010 12:51 PM
Russel Ray, San Diego Business & Marketing Consultant & Photographer
Russel Ray - San Diego State University, CA

During last year's Christmas "Parade of Boats," a nighttime event, a Coast Guard boat plowed into another boat, killing a little boy. We just got word today in the paper that an investigation revealed that the Coast Guard operators were texting. What does it take before people learn? They probably won't. After all, they haven't learned about drunk driving after a century.

Aug 12, 2010 11:18 AM
Robin Dampier REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker King - Hendersonville, NC
Hendersonville & Western NC Real Estate Source

Oh Russel -- that's terrible.  Texting and driving is an awful combo and flirting with disaster such as this case.

Sue of Robin and Sue

Aug 12, 2010 11:48 AM