#TextingAndDriving

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that the state will designate “texting zones” along New York’s highways in hopes to curb distracted driving.

Smokers have a small arsenal of gimmicks to keep deadly cravings at bay, but what about teens addicted to texting from behind the wheel? Now they have “thumb socks.”

According to a recent study, only 1 percent of parents believe their teenage drivers are texting and driving even though 26 percent of teens admit to doing so at least once every time they drive.

Fair warning, if you live in Ohio and text behind the wheel, you could face fines or worse: a suspended driver’s license. 

Despite acknowledging that it’s a dangerous habit, a significant proportion of teens admit to texting and driving. A new survey by Consumer Reports shows that almost a third of the teens surveyed admitted having the practice themselves.

Just when an earlier study suggested that teenagers today prefer owning smartphones and electronic devices over owning a car, a local study by news channel Sacramento News10 revealed that there is a resurgence of manual transmission automobiles for young drivers.

This distracted driving PSA isn’t meant to make you LOL, but it will have you saying OMG.

The Department of Transportation will be releasing its new public service announcement, titled OMG, in theaters and at gas stations nationwide, in the next month. This PSA is targeted to teens to remind them to put down the cell phone and stop texting while driving. Employing popular texting phrases like LOL and L8R, the ad shows the dangers that three little characters can potentially cause. And with the holiday season almost upon us – with all the vacation days, parties and high-tech gifts – this PSA is a sobering reminder of how little it takes to get into a car accident while texting and driving.

The PSA will be shown at Regal Cinema movie screens and PumpTop TV at gas stations. Or you can watch it after the jump.

[Source: Consumer Reports]