SAL Feature Story

DWT, WHAT'S THAT??

Staff Writer - S. Crow

February 2009
 

Last year, California joined other state lawmakers such as Washington, Utah, and Arizona, in a DWT (Driving-While-Texting) crackdown.  The law targets teen drivers due to the fact that statistics overwhelmingly indicate that they are more likely to end up in a crash which results in death. "The simple fact”, said Governor Schwarzenegger, “is that teenage drivers are more easily distracted."  The California governor also pointed out that eliminating any extra distractions and focusing on paying attention to the road is his intended goal.  He added, "We just don't want to say 'Hasta la vista, baby' to young drivers anymore!"

There isn’t any hard data for teen DWT’s in many other states like California, but texting while driving is commonplace for teens and adults alike.  Stop at any red light, no matter the state you live, and the people around you are consistently distracted by their phone whether texting or talking.  Perhaps the appropriate acronym should be simply DWD (Driving While Distracted). 

Think you can drive while distracted and still do no harm?  Blake, a high school student in Fulton County Georgia would beg to differ.  A once vibrant, energetic kid, who loved to participate in a game of football with his friends, now limps his way hunched over to the field where he once played.  He speaks with disgust about the soccer mom who took his life as he knew it. Driving while she was distracted with her cell phone, she hit the 15year old head on.  You should first know that it was a miracle that Blake ever survived, and to do so, it took many months of painful surgeries.  In addition, his offender had no remorse for her actions, as she considered this an accident, so took no fault of her own.  If this wasn’t bad enough, Blake’s classmates now see him as an angry young man in a situation which they have no understanding.  Life for Blake is now tragically different, and sadly, there are many others out there who are put in similar circumstances every day.

As Governor Sschwarzenegger indicates, teens are the ones who are most at risk for their age group.  And similarly, they are most likely to model their parent’s behavior. So, whether you’re an adult or teen, take a page from Blake’s story – DWI, DWT or DWD - just don’t do it.