If your teen sons or daughters have a texting habit, and that extends to when they’re driving, they have a significantly higher chance of drying in a car crash. That’s the report of the Texas Transportation Institute, via data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The report reveals a study showing that nighttime fatal crashes are increasing at a faster rate for young age groups. That spike is being attributed not just to more night trips by teen drivers, but to teens texting while driving at night.

Nighttime fatal car crash accidents involving drivers 16-19 years old rose 10 per cent between 1999 and 2008, the study shows, while such fatal crashes involving drivers 20 and older rose 8 per cent.

A senior research specialist for TTI in Austin told the Associated Press that the increased auto accident deaths stem from a “perfect storm” of fatal factors. Driving at night is inherently hazardous, said TTI’s Bernie Fetts, while using a cell phone to call or text compromises a person’s ability to drive.

Distracted driving is slaughtering thousands of Americans yearly, which is why 23 states so far have passed laws banning texting while driving. Sadly, Texas is not yet one of them.

Jim S. Adler & Associates encourages all drivers — teens and older — to hang up and drive, both for the sake of themselves and others on the road. Just because you haven’t had a driving accident while texting — yet — doesn’t mean the odds won’t catch up with you.

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