Driving Campaigns Texting Stop Distracted Organizations State Young

Many organizations have "launched" (started; implemented) "campaigns" (efforts involving many people) to reduce or "eliminate" (get rid of) "distracted" (not able to pay full attention) driving, specifically driving while texting and/or talking on the phone. Many, but not all, of these campaigns are "aimed" (directed) at teenagers, who "tend to be" (are usually) the greatest "culprits" (people who are guilty of doing something bad).

The Ad Council (an organization that produces "public service ads" (messages on important social issues)), the State Attorneys General (elected "chief" (most important) legal officers in state government)), and the Highway Traffic Safety Administration "run" (operate; manage) a campaign called "Stop the Texts. Stop the "Wrecks" (accidents)." It is aimed at teenagers and young adults, who often "overestimate" (think something is larger or greater than it actually is) their ability to text safely while driving. Similarly, the U.S. Department of Transportation works with many other organizations to work toward the same goal.

These campaigns report that each year almost 500,000 young adults are "injured" (hurt) due to distracted driving. They also report that drivers are 23 times more likely to "crash" (get in an accident) if they are texting. Apparently one's eyes are "off the road" (not looking at the road) for an average of five seconds while texting, and at freeway speeds, that is enough time for the car to travel the length of a large number of cars-certainly enough to crash.

Many states are paying attention to these campaigns and "enacting" (creating) laws that make it illegal for people to text or make phone calls without a "hands-free device" (the ability to speak on the phone without using one's hands) while driving.