VSU to Simulate the Dangers of Texting and Driving

VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University’s Office of Health Promotions will simulate the dangers of texting and driving between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, on the Pedestrian Mall in front of Odum Library.

Text messaging is the most alarming form of distracted driving, shared Holly Wright, assistant director of the Office of Health Promotions, because texting requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver. Sending or receiving a text message takes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds — the equivalent of driving the entire length of a football field at 55 miles per hour blind, she added.

Driving while distracted creates a crash risk 23 times greater than driving while not distracted, and while text messaging is the most alarming distraction, it is not alone, Wright noted. Using a cell phone, eating and drinking, talking to passengers, using a navigation system, grooming, reading, watching a video, and adjusting a radio, MP3 player, or CD player all divert a person’s attention from the primary task of driving, putting the driver, his or her passengers, and any bystanders at risk of serious injury and even death.

Contact Holly Wright at (229) 245-3896 or hhwright@valdosta.edu to learn more.

Valdosta State University’s 2013-2019 Strategic Plan represents a renewal of energy and commitment to the foundational principles for comprehensive institutions.

Implementation of the plan’s five goals, along with their accompanying objectives and strategies, supports VSU’s institutional mission and the University System of Georgia’s mission for comprehensive universities.

The story above demonstrates VSU's commitment to meeting the following goals:

Goal 1: Recruit, retain, and graduate a quality, diverse student population and prepare students for roles as leaders in a global society.

Goal 3: Promote student, employee, alumni, retiree, and community engagement in our mission.

Visit http://www.valdosta.edu/administration/planning/strategic-plan.php to learn more.