Visit TxtResponsibly.org to help raise awareness of the dangers of driving.

You can:
-Share personal stories
-Take the oath
-Bring the message to your community

 In 2009, 5,474 people were killed in U.S. roadways and an estimated additional 448,000
were injured in motor vehicle crashes that were reported to have involved distracted
driving.

 The proportion of fatalities reportedly associated with driver distraction increased from
10 percent in 2005 to 16 percent in 2009. During that time, fatal crashes with reported
driver distraction also increased from 10 percent to 16 percent. (distraction.gov).

 On November 9th, 2009, Rhode Island was the 19th state whose Governor signed a bill on
banning texting while driving. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT)
and its Office on Highway Safety are sending a message to drivers that it is now illegal to
text while driving. (drivinglaws.org)

 According to Title 31, the written text of R.I’s law on texting while operating a motor
vehicle, if a citizen is caught texting and driving their first offense is an $85 ticket, their
second offense is a $100 ticket and their third offense is a $125 ticket. The only groups
that are prohibited from the use of cell phones while driving are drivers under the age of
18 and school bus operators.

 27 Rhode Island communities wrote a combined 185 tickets for texting and driving
through the end of last year. Larger R.I. cities seem to have the most records of fines
given for texting and driving, including Warwick (17 tickets), Providence (12 tickets) and
Johnston (11 tickets). 9 other communities that have not cited any drivers for texting
(http://www.wpri.com/dpp/target_12/ri-drivers-fined-11k-for-texting)
 The U.S Department of Transportation, “Using a cell phone use while driving, whether
it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol
concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent.”

 In 2003, Dr. David Strayer conducted another study revealing the reason as “inattention
blindness”. This means that motorists can look directly at road conditions, but not really
see them because they are distracted by a cell phone conversation. Strayer recently
appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, where he said that only about 2% of people have
the capability to multi-task in the way that is necessary for texting and driving.
(http://www.suite101.com/content/texting-and-driving-a216544)

 “It takes a lot of observation on the trooper's part, the signals that someone is texting
behind the wheel, such as erratic driving and weaving between lanes, is similar to those
that show a motorist is drunk.” When a citizen is pulled over for texting while driving,
the officer can ask to look at his or her phone; if he or she refuses, law enforcement can
check the person's phone bill to see whether the driver was texting at the time he or she
was pulled over.
(http://www.wpri.com/dpp/target_12/ri-drivers-fined-11k-for-texting)

 A state lawmaker has proposed legislation to require those caught texting while driving to
install such a device. The equipment is wired to a vehicle's engine and alerts the driver's
cell phone when the engine is on. Software installed on the phone then disables texting or
email capabilities. Phones without the software aren't affected.
(http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=13298953)