Texas Officials' 'Talk, Text, Crash' Campaign Warns Of Distracted Driving Perils

AUSTIN, TX — If ever one needed to be reminded of the dangers of distracted driving, a powerful, grim example emerged out of Central Texas this week: A youthful driver believed to have been texting while driving careened into a church bus packed with seniors returning from Bible study last week, killing 13 of them.

The death toll in that case is unfathomable, the impact of such loss incalculable. But distracted driving is no isolated incident, with one in five traffic crashes in Texas caused by distracted drivers, the Texas Department of Transportation said.

The agency's new campaign "Talk, Text, Crash" comes coincidentally timed in the wake of that horrific crash just outside Garner State Park that claimed the lives of the First Baptist New Braunfels church just outside San Antonio. Launched March 30, the campaign aims to educate the public about the perils of distracted driving as part of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April.

“People are dying on Texas roadways because drivers are diverting their attention from the road to talk on a phone, send a text, post to social media, or engage in some other distracting behavior,” TxDOT Executive Director James Bass said. “When drivers take their focus off the road, they put themselves, their passengers, and others at risk. It’s just not worth it.”

Related stories:

13 Dead, 3 Injured In Central Texas Church Bus Crash; Police ID Deceased

Driver Who Caused Central Texas Crash That Killed 13 Was Texting: Report

The statistics are sobering: Last year, there were 108,962 distracted driving crashes in Texas – up three percent from 2015. Those crashes killed 452 people and seriously injured another 3,068, and highest highest among younger drivers ages 16 to 34.

Jack Dillion Young, 20, is now one of those statistics. He survived the impact of the crash when his pickup truck veered into the opposing lane where the church bus was traveling, and is currently hospitalized. For the rest of his days, he'll likely be tormented by the carnage on that stretch of Hill Country road that could've easily been prevented.

In Texas, 38 percent of drivers say they regularly or sometimes use a cell phone while driving, TxDot officials said. Text messaging is particularly dangerous as reaction times double when drivers read or send text messages. To convey the dangers further, here's the rough calculus: A driver texting at 55 mph will lose sight of the road for nearly five seconds, which is comparable to driving the length of a football field while blindfolded, according to transportation officials.

While mobile phone use is the most recognizable driving distraction, other high-risk activities that can take your eyes or mind off the road include adjusting a music player, grooming, eating, or programming a navigation system, officials said.

To avoid further tragedies from occurring, TxDot officials provide the following tips:

• Put away the phone – or turn it off – before getting behind the wheel;
• Pull over to a safe location if you must talk or text;
• Use an app that will block texts and calls while driving;
• Tell friends, family, and colleagues you won’t respond to calls or texts when driving;
• Always give driving your full attention.

Distracted driving is no abstraction, as the loved ones of those 14 lost souls ranging in age from 61 to 87 can painfully attest. One would be wise to heed these potentially life-saving tips.

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