Texting While Driving a deadly message :’-(

What is the leading cause of death for U.S. teens and young adults? A. Homicide B. Motor vehicle crashes C. Influenza In 2005, twelve teens ages 16 to 19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries.

In Utah, 1 out of 5 (18%) fatal crashes involved a teen driver Motor Vehicle Crashes are #1 killer of Utah Teens

And here are some of your peers who were affected

Driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes and near-crashes. There is usually some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the event. Primary causes of driver inattention are distracting activities, such as cell phone use and drowsiness.

Ban: 28 states have a full or partial law Does Utah have a law?

The answer is: Yes TEXTING WHILE DRIVING IS ILLEGAL As of May 2009, TWD is a Class C Misdemeanor If caught and pulled over by a police officer, the driver may have to pay up to $750 and 90 days in jail. Cause an accident: Class B Misdemeanor, which could mean up to $1000 and 6 months in jail or license suspension Cause a fatality: Fine of up to $10,000+ and 15 years in prison Texting is a primary offense Talking on your phone is secondary offense.

Text messaging while driving is causing more and more accidents every day. And people are dying………..

This teen was not the only one who is texting while driving….. 46% of teens admit to texting while driving Texting drivers are six times more likely to crash. The reaction time of someone TWD is higher than someone under the influence of Marijuana or at the legal alcohol limit

BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH

The Problem in Utah People exhibiting distracting driving is going up in Utah. It is the highest exhibited behavior but perceived to be the least dangerous.

Perceived Risk Do you feel like TWD is a problem among your Hispanic peers? Are they doing it? Do they feel it is dangerous?

What are barriers that stop you from avoiding TWD? How could we overcome those barriers? H and it over O ut of sight T urn it off My cell phone is H.O.T.

PEER PERCEPTIONS: SPANISH FORK H.S. FOCUS GROUP, OCTOBER 2008

Most have cell phones, but vary widely in the amount they text message. As for TWD, almost all find it dangerous yet all either have been in an accident while TWD or know someone who has.

“addicted” “It’s their oxygen” An “invincible” attitude “It can’t happen to me”

What teens say about getting others to stop “There’s nothing you can do” Scare tactics “Unless an ad is hilarious or shocking, I don’t remember it.” A TWD law: “Fair, but hard to enforce”

What does Facebook think? Facebook: There are an estimated 312 pages and groups against TWD with a combined membership of 41,000.

What do your peers think? TIMPVIEW HIGH SCHOOL- Last fall, Timpview High School government students promoted banning texting while driving and were able to pass it through the complicated legislative system. Governor Huntsman signed the bill after hearing the students’ testimonies, and the students, along with their government teacher, Ms. April Hallam, were invited back to Capitol Hill for a press conference involving Cricket Wireless’s new marketing for the bill. "These projects are intended to get my students involved in the legislative process and show them how they can individually make a difference if they choose to get involved,” Hallam said.

What are other things that distract you? Reaching for a moving object: increases risk of crash or near-crash by 9 times Looking at an external object by 3.7 times Reading by 3 times Applying makeup by 3 times Dialing a hand-held device (typically a cell phone) by almost 3 times Talking or listening on a hand-held device by 1.3 times

Looking away is never safe “….drivers are often unable to predict when it is safe to look away from the road to multi- task because the situation can change abruptly leaving the driver no time to react even when looking away…for only a brief time.”

TARGET AUDIENCE

Targeting Young Adults Focus on year-old Hispanic youth Targeting young adults does not only save their lives, it saves the lives of your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Inspiration: Print

Outdoor KILLED BY A TEXT DRIVER SARA MONNAT AGE 17 ARE YOU ONE OF THEM?

Videos: our focus. As you watch these videos… Think about what you like about them, what you don’t. What is it about a good video that makes you want to forward it on to your friends? …….What makes a video viral?

*S witch off cell phone before you drive off (11sec)cell phone before you drive off (11sec) Two things at once - cell phone (32sec)- cell phone (32sec) Speak Up! (35 sec.) Speak Up! Time: (40 sec.) Time: Bus driver: (20 sec.) Don’t drive while distracted: (30 sec.) (3-4 min total to show all videos)

Texting while driving also contributed to these deaths…….. In Memoriam

Ashley D. Miller, 18, veered into oncoming traffic and hit another car head-on while she was texting. She and the other driver, a 40 year-old mother of 1, were killed instantly.

Chelsea Ann Bragg, 16, was killed after texting while driving. She veered off the shoulder of the road and then lost control of the car, causing it to roll twice. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

In the UK, Rachel Begg, 19, entered prison for four years after causing the death of a 64-year-old grandmother. Begg was texting while she ploughed into the woman’s car at 70 mph.

References National Center for Injury prevention and Control, Division of Unintentional Injury. Teen Drivers: Fact Sheet. Retrieved from Mom Logic. (2008, August 18, ). Texting and Driving Deadly for Teens. Retrieved from McMillan, P. (2007, June 26). Death crash teen is facing prison. Evening Chronicle. Retrieved from chronicle/tm_headline=death-crash-teen-is-facing- prison&method=full&objectid= &siteid=50081-name_page.html AAA. (2007, July10). Teen Risky Driving Habits Include Text Messaging Behind the Wheel. Retrieved from My Fox Utah. (2007, 15 Nov). Texting in Traffic: Part 1. Salt Lake City: Fox 3C A0D5?contentId= &version=1&locale=EN- US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1

2006 Utah Fatalities Data Analysis. Zero Fatalities. Retrieved from Utah Fatalities Data Analysis. Zero Fatalities. Retrieved from Nielsen Mobile (2008). Nielsen: Texting now more popular than calling. Retrieved from Ragland, D. (2004). Traffic Safety and Latino Youth: Patterns, Factors, and Solutions: General Statistics, Patterns and Trends. UC Berkeley Traffic Safety Center. California Childhood Injury Prevention Conference.