Traveling Safe During the Holidays
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An automobile crash which authorities said was caused by a motorist who answered her phone while driving has officials once again reminding drivers of the woes of using a cell phone while driving. “I just feel like I’ve got to know who it is and I have to reply,” said Zach Wallace, a Jackson motorist. Authorities said it is illegal to text while driving in Tennessee. Some West Tennessee drivers said the impulse to use different devices while driving can be addictive. “You naturally just want to respond back,” said Mike Hudson, a Jackson motorist. Authorities said using a cell phone while driving can be as dangerous as driving while impaired by alcohol. “Especially in the congested traffic in which we have right now in the holiday season you can travel a pretty good distance….if you look down for just a second to do that(read a text) you are having to look at what you read,” said Sergeant Michael Thomas of the Jackson Police Department. Sergeant Thomas said operating devices such as GPS systems can also serve as a distraction. “It takes a while to type them out and sometimes they’re hard to spell and different words pop up,” said Wendy Cude, a Jackson motorist. Cude said she and her boyfriend Zach Wallace have worked out a system for operating their GPS while driving. “A lot of times I’ll get her to do it for me because it takes so long to put the address in,” said Wallace.
