Editor:

One of the most common distractions a driver faces is a cell phone.

Almost everyone has seen someone secretly texting and driving with their phone hidden in their lap, or swerving down the road because they are talking on their phone. In B.C. alone, there are an average of 94 deaths a year associated with distracted driving.

Even after the law was issued banning the use of electronic devices while driving, people still choose to take the unnecessary risk of texting while driving. Your possibility of crashes increases 23 times when you're texting and driving. People just aren't realizing that texting while driving has a similar effect as drinking and driving.

We as human beings face so many dangers throughout our day, and yet we are bringing one more risk into the picture without even thinking. Research shows one quarter of crashes are due to driver distraction, and texting while driving is the third leading cause of fatal car crashes.

There are many different solutions to these problems. The simplest and most effective solution is to turn off your cell phone before you even get into your car. Or get a hands-free device, one that is effective and you feel comfortable using.

In less than four months I am going to be learning how to drive and my phone will be turned off every time I get into a car to drive. The last thing I want is to injure myself or someone else because I had the urge to quickly reply to a text message.

You can also inform your family and friends of these dangers, so they don't face a deadly car accident in the future. It only takes one glance at your phone to end your life, or someone else's. Texting and driving is illegal and dangerous. It needs to stop now.

Brooklynn Currie Sardis