Texting Can Wait | Video

Sarahbeth Ackerman | 8/16/2012

A cell phone is a great device, you can call, text and even browse the Internet. However, doing these things behind the wheel can be dangerous, even deadly.

"Any time there`s an injury or fatality accident they will try and retrieve whatever phone records they can, ya know, find to see what kind of contribution it had to the accident. Unfortunately it`s sometimes too late," said Minot Police Sergeant Margie Zietz.

Texting while driving is a serious and dangerous habit. Minot law enforcement are trying to keep an eye on violators.

"We are writing some texting and driving tickets. Unfortunately, a lot of it comes after the fact that it`s already been accident or people are reporting people texting and driving," Zietz said.

Zietz believes the number of tickets issued are also going up as the population in Minot increases.

While some may believe they are equipped to mulitask behind the wheel, others believe it is inexcusable.

"It`s crazy, you can`t do that in a car. You can`t eat, you can`t talk on the phone, you should drive your car. Period," said resident Pat Alme.

It doesn`t matter if you`re on the phone or texting, it causes a lot of distractions behind the wheel.

Wireless provider AT&T is being proactive about the issue.

"There`s been a lot of casualties with texting and driving. You`ve heard about the campaigns all around the nation and we want to be safe and have people stop," said AT&T manager Kindra Grondahl.

AT&T put together a campaign, called "It Can Wait," which aims to put a stop to pressing the buttons while behind the wheel.

"It`s called the Drive Mode App. Where when you get in your car, you turn the drive mode on and anytime someone sends you a text message, they will actually, it will send a test message back saying that you are driving and will text them back," said Grondahl.

Although it`s hard to enforce the law, drivers should know that there are safer and easier ways to keep yourself and others around you unharmed.

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