Driving and talking on a cell phone is a major distraction and possible cause of car crashes. Cell phones and new technology is becoming the cause of more and more deadly crashes, especially when it is a teen driver. There were 3,092 deaths in distraction-related accidents in 2010, but the number is probably higher. Talking on a cell phone while driving can make a young driver’s reaction time as slow as that of a 70-year-old. While teenagers are texting, they spend about 10 percent of the time outside the driving lane they’re supposed to be in. About 6,000 deaths and a half a million injuries are caused by distracted drivers every year. Each year, 21% of deadly car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 was because they were on their cell phones. This result has been expected to grow 4% every year. Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) is an organization all over the country and is a recognized group that started out 30 years ago with a mission to prevent drinking while driving. In 1997, they changed their name because they wanted increase their focus into all areas of negative behaviors such as texting while driving, road rage, and teen crashes in general. The National Organization for Youth Safety (NOYS) is another countrywide organization that promotes empowerment and leadership for teens to take action and help save lives among their fellow road companions.
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