Does your child text while driving? If the answer is “yes,” he or she is at the same risk of causing a fatal accident as someone who is driving while legally drunk. The statistics are far reaching and frightening.

Across the nation, celebrities and organizations are grappling with this escalating problem. Oprah Winfrey is taking a lead with her No Texting Campaign – don’t temp f8, that txt can w8   and inviting all drivers to take her No Phone Zone Pledge. Her website now includes a growing bank of resources such as  the video What you really see when you’re texting.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has launched the first national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending distracted driving in this country.  You can learn more about their program at Distraction.gov.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles is currently enforcing the following cell phone laws:

• Prohibit persons under the age of 18 from driving a motor vehicle while using a wireless telephone or a mobile service device. This prohibition includes telephones equipped with a hands-free device.
• Prohibit persons 18 and older from driving a motor vehicle while using a hand-held cellular telephone unless that telephone permits hands-free operation. EXCEPTIONS: The law allows those driving a motor truck, truck tractor, tow truck, or specified farm vehicles to use a digital two-way radio service built into a wireless telephone that operates by depressing a push-to-talk feature and does not require immediate proximity to the user’s ear. These exceptions apply until July 1, 2011.

Bottom line: Do not text while driving!

If you have resources 2WebWatchers could add to this blog and include in our Internet Safety presentations, please post a comment.

Note: Image copied from Oprah.com