The terrors of texting

The practice is widespread. According to a survey by AAA and Seventeen magazine, 61 percent of 16- and 17-year-olds admit to risky driving habits and of those, 46 percent say they text while driving. Fifty-one percent of those teens say they drive while talking on their cell phones.

Some states have banned driving while texting, talking on cell phones without a hands-free device, or both, and others have banned all cell phone practices for young drivers, but the laws are often ignored by teens and appear to be loosely enforced by law enforcement officials.

Studies have shown that a person using a cell phone while driving, hands-free or not, is four times more likely to crash and, as a result, land in the hospital, and that using a cell phone while driving is as risky as driving drunk. Furthermore, inexperienced drivers are much more accident-prone when distracted, and many inexperienced teens don't recognize the dangers cell phones pose.

And it's not just drivers that can be distracted by texting; pedestrians, cyclists, and rollerbladers all face risks when they let their thumbs lead the way. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), the nation's emergency room doctors have reported anecdotal evidence of increasing serious and sometimes fatal injuries among teens and young adults due to accidents that resulted from texting at inappropriate times. Additionally, texting or talking have been known to result in facial injuries from tripping while using a cell phone; collision injuries involving bikers, rollerbladers and pedestrians; and walking into traffic.

Because of these injuries, the ACEP released the following common-sense safety measures to keep people out of the emergency room. When you send your loved ones back to school this year, whether they walk, ride, or drive, be sure they know these tips.

• Don't text or use a cell phone while engaged in any physical activities that require sustained attention, such as when walking, biking, boating, and rollerblading. Also don't use the phone or text during intermittent-contact sports such as baseball, football or soccer.
• Never text or use a hand-held cell phone while driving or motorcycling, and use caution even when using a headset.
• Avoid becoming distracted by rummaging through purses, backpacks or clothing by keeping cell phones and smart phones in easy-to-find locations, such as in phone pockets or pouches.
• Ignore the call or message if it might interfere with concentrating on critical activities that require attention. Better yet, turn off the device beforehand during times when incoming calls or messages might prove to be a dangerous, embarrassing or simply annoying interference.
• Make sure you're in a safe environment while texting. Don't text in precarious situations, such as while sitting alone at a bus stop at night, where you could become a robbery victim.

—Kevin McCarthy, associate editor

Read what our Cars bloggers have to say about driving while texting, and find out more expert advice for students and parents in our back to school guide.