AT & T's Don T Text While Driving

“Four little letters that’s what killed her.” (AT&T) Was the last text you sent worth paralysis, mental disability or even worse, dying? Within the past five to ten years cell phone use has been on the rise. There are about 285.6 million cell phone users in the U.S. (Trisko and Richerd par 1). These cell phones are a huge cause of many car accidents. Americans using their cell phones to text, call, or surf the internet while driving is the cause of up to about 80% of accidents (TextingnDriving par 1). So many people are seen using their phones while driving it is becoming impossible for police to gain control over the issue. People should not text and drive because, by altering their concentration it can result in dangers to themselves

Most of these people are either seriously injured or in many cases paralyzed. The passenger of someone who decided to text and drive was in “AT&T’s Don’t Text While Driving” Documentary, he was declared dead on the scene three times. He is now lucky to be alive. Unfortunately he is unable to walk on his own or dress himself. His life is completely changed because the driver wrote one text that sent them out of control and into a tree. 24% of spinal cord injuries are caused by a car accident (Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation). With most spinal cord injuries the victims are usually paralyzed from the waist down. Xzavier Bilbo of Wisconsin was walking in the crosswalk when he was hit by a woman who was texting and driving. Xzavier is now paralyzed from the diaphragm down (Williams). “Texting while driving makes you 23 times more likely to crash.” (National Hwy Transportation Safety Admin.) That means that you are 23 times more like to paralyze yourself and or your

The drivers who survive the accidents can experience post traumatic stress syndrome, which is common in those who have seen or experienced trauma. Liz Marks got into a car accident after picking up her phone to read a text and is now blind in one eye, partially paralyzed, and her face is disfigured. This is mentally affecting her because her friends are no longer associating with her. Marks is realizing that reading the text was not worth what she is going through now. They may suffer from flashbacks to the event or bad dreams (Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome par 1). “Hyperarousal symptoms” sometimes occur which are; being scared easily, trouble sleeping, and issues with anger (Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome par 3). The biggest effect of a texting and driving accident is the guilt some drivers feel. They feel guilty about the pain they caused to their friends and their families. So much pain is caused after one of these accidents. Chandler from the AT&T Texting and Driving campaign was texting and driving when he struck and killed three children. “There’s never a day that I wake up that I don’t think about it” (Chandler). Soon the drivers realize it was not worth it for them to send or read that short text. It is normal for these people to experience these feelings and emotions. These can last for a short time which is called acute