Driving and texting individually is harmless and hardly illegal, but doing both at the same time can get someone trouble with the law and jeopardize his or her safety.

Phones have always been a main distraction for drivers since their invention, but the act of texting takes more attention from the person, making it more dangerous to do while driving. It seems to afflict the teens, however, the most. In fact, according to the insurance institute for highway safety (NHSTA) 10 percent of drivers aged 16 to 24 are on their phone at any one time while driving. But age aside, this distraction impairs all sorts of drivers. If drivers are on the phone, they are four times more likely to get into an accident (NHSTA).

Texting and driving also jeopardizes other drivers as well. “People always cut me off, and I almost got into a bunch of accidents because people are always on their phone and not paying attention.”  said senior Arielle Arbour.

Still even knowing that it is a potential hazard on the road, some teens still admit to doing it. “I know it’s dangerous, but I get bored during driving and I talk to people.” said senior Jacob Stephen.

Lauren Moore believes that it is only acceptable sometimes, depending on the situation. “I think its only OK I f there’s a stoplight and there’s nobody around you, or you’re waiting at a stop sign,” said Moore.

For the most part, it’s a problem that is in the process of being solved. Law enforcement finds it difficult to catch people in the act, and unfortunately it is revealed after the accident has happened. “The only way we find out is after the accident when we check the phone records. If there was a message at the time of the accident, then that’s how we know.” said Deputy TJ Henderson.

Naturally police are trying to prevent or completely stop the perilous practice. “I think it’s a distraction, and it’s going to be a hard thing to stop, because texting isn’t done in plain view, its done down at the drivers lap,” said Henderson.