It is common knowledge that texting while driving is extremely dangerous. However, do students at Faith actually follow the Nevada laws when behind the wheel?

In the recent Crusader Chronicle poll, 63 percent of voters anonymously confirmed they do not text while driving. Many students were apprehensive to admit their mobile device tempts them when they are driving. According to textinganddrivingsafely.com, 77 percent of young adults are very or somewhat confident that they can safely text while driving. 55 percent stated that they believe it is easy to text while driving.

In 2011, at least 23 percent of auto collisions involved cell phones; that’s 1.3 million crashes. Texting while driving makes a crash up to 23 times more likely.

Senior Sean Fung proudly admits he does not text while driving. “I have my friends text for me while I drive.”

Angie Cannito, senior, also stated that she does not text while driving because, “it is unsafe and it puts everyone else’s life in jeopardy.” Having a police officer as a father has helped Cannito learn more in depth about following the law and it’s significance.

Listening to music on your phone while driving is especially common among young drivers. Although,  most drivers do not consider switching songs on their phone while driving to be illegal. According to the law, contact with a mobile device of any kind while the vehicle is on is illegal. Therefore, even skipping over the bad songs at a red light could result in a ticket.

Teen drivers are not the only ones breaking the new Nevada law. 48 percent of young adult drivers have seen their parents drive while talking on their cellphone. 15 percent have witnessed their parents texting while driving.

Mr. Bowline said he does not believe the law has prevented drivers from using their phones. “In fact, I am starting to see more people on their phones when they are leaving the parking lot,” said Bowline. “This is not only from the students but also the parents.”

Laws against cell phone usage while driving are increasing around the nation. Nevada is one of 10 states that prohibits it. AT&T now offers a DriveMode App that silences all cell phone notifications when in a vehicle moving 15 mph or more.

So next time you’re driving, consider silencing your phone in order to remove any temptation. Not only for other driver’s safety, but because it’s the law.