“How many deaths will it take till he knows that too many people have died?” — Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan’s humanistic sentiments when he wrote 1962′s Blowin’ in the Wind could be reworded to fit Americans’ driving-while-texting tragedies today. How many such distracted driving deaths will it take till we know that too many people have died, and embrace our responsibility behind the wheel? And how many deaths will it take till Texas bans texting while driving — as 23 states already have?

Meanwhile, too many people heedlessly text while driving, causing  injuries and deaths despite repeated warnings. And many culprits are text-obsessed teens. In fact, a teen was involved in a crash with a Houston fire truck late Thursday night, when police said she was texting while driving and ran a red light, causing the collision. A fireman had minor injuries, but the teen had to be hospitalized.

How many car crashes will it take to turn the tide against texting while driving?

Parents, you can help. Surveys show that 49 per cent of teens admit to texting while driving. That’s up from 31 per cent in 2005. And this distraction can be fatal while driving, when one moment’s inattention can cause a lifetime of agony.

Yet Texas has no law to address this, though many other states are poised to join the 23 which already ban texting while driving. Some Texas cities are getting it done by passing municipal laws banning texting while driving. Austin is the biggest, though San Antonio is headed that way.

About 6,000 Americans die annually due to distracted drivers texting or calling at the wheel. Another 500,000 are injured, many of them seriously. How many deaths will it take till Texas recognizes that too many people have died, and till distracted drivers grasp their responsibilities?

Jim S. Adler & Associates supports safe driving campaigns and urges everyone to hang up and drive. Very few calls or texts can’t wait until you reach your destination. Besides, if you don’t pay attention, you may not reach it at all.

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