One text or call could wreck it all

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  If someone told you to drive 70 mph across the length of football field with your eyes closed, you would probably tell them they were crazy.

Yet this is what drivers do every time they read or send a text. In 2009, nearly 5,550 people "were killed in crashes involving driver distraction," according to distraction.gov. Almost 450,000 more were injured.

The website features the stories of 18 people who were victims of distracted driving -- including the death of a pregnant 19-year-old and her unborn child, and the paralyzation of a 5-year-old boy who had dreamed of becoming a football player.

Thousands of family members and friends are dead because a driver decided paying attention to the road wasn't the most important thing at the moment.

"I've been driving behind people before who were potentially intoxicated, but once I got around them, I could see them looking down and texting or using a phone," said U.S. Air Force Maj. Justin Secrest, 23rd Security Forces Squadron commander. "With three children of my own and a squadron full of folks... the statistics speak for themselves.
"It only takes one second for something to go wrong. It can happen to you, and too many people unfortunately don't learn this until something tragic happens."

While killing or seriously injuring themselves, passengers or other drivers is the worst-case scenario, there are other consequences.

Tommy Harman, 23rd SFS chief of administration, said drivers pulled over for texting on base will receive four points on their license; 12 points within 12 months can results in a suspended license. Drivers must report all tickets to their first sergeant or commander within 24 hours, he said.

Look at an excerpt from Air Force Instruction 91-207 "The US Air Force Traffic Safety Program" to get an idea of what you're allowed to do while driving. Texting is also prohibited by Georgia state law; offenders are fined and get one point added to their license.

If a driver REALLY needs to read or send a text, they should pull over -- one text or call could wreck it all.