Students Learn Dangers of Texting Behind the Wheel
By: Ashley Zilka
Updated: June 24, 2012
Studies show if you are talking on a cell phone, you are just as likely to have a crash as if you were drunk.
That's why Morgan School of Driving focuses on the dangers of texting and driving. It's a big problem that takes not only your mind but also your eyes off the road.
"I was ignorant, I would text and drive, I would speed, I obviously drank and drove, so after everything I had to go through, all the money I spent, it's just not worth it," said Jacob Burns of Spencerport.
Jacob Burns got a DWI when he was 17. Three years later, he's able to get his driver's license back. Morgan School of Driving offers a five hour pre-licensing class that drivers, like Burns, must take before their test.
Burns' experience with texting and driving is all too common, says Vice President Larry Scott. He started to see the problem five years ago.
"We had a student driving down the road a few years ago and an instructor came back and said I can't believe it, she dropped one hand off the wheel and was text messaging on her phone on the side of her hip. We had to pull her over and call her parents," said Scott.
Scott says a good portion of the lessons taught in the classroom focus on texting and driving. That's because you can't legally text and drive when out on the road with an instructor.
"One of the instructors sets the chairs up in a random pattern and has them text message with somebody else in the class trying to walk through this maze of chairs. They are bumping into chairs, losing their train of thought," said Scott.
Studies show a driver is 23 times more likely to get into a car accident while driving and texting. Scott says he realizes nobody is perfect. Drivers can be distracted by many things. They change the radio station, look for roads and even check addresses.
Scott hopes his students understand the consequences.
"You are about to do the most dangerous thing you are ever going to do in life unless you go to war," said Scott.
"I didn't really have a thought on it before, cause I had my license previously, but after my reality check, I never text and drive ever, it's way too distracting," said Burns.
