Dangerous behavior

Americans, particularly young people, are using text-messaging more and more as a direct means of communication.

The New York Times reports that Nielsen Mobile, a consumer research company, tracked 50,000 mobile-phone customers in the second quarter of this year to see how they were communicating. Nielsen found that each person sent or received 357 text messages per month, compared with 204 phone calls.

Thus, text messages exceeded phone calls for the second consecutive quarter, the company reported. Teens and young adults are using text-messaging "as a second language," the Times reports. Nielsen found that Americans 13 to 17 years old sent or received an average of 1,742 text messages per month in the second quarter.

Unfortunately, many people ages 16 to 30 text while driving: A Nationwide Insurance survey of 1,503 drivers discovered that 40 percent do so.

It does not take a special study or report to know that texting while driving is dangerous. The National Transportation Safety Board has found that the engineer of a commuter train in Los Angeles was receiving and sending text messages at the controls. The train collided with a freight train, killing 25.

There are definite safety concerns.

As Paul Saffo, a forecaster of technology trends said: "The act of texting automatically removes 10 IQ points. We have all seen people walk into parking meters or walk into traffic and seem startled by oncoming cars."

Some states have passed laws banning text-messaging while operating a motor vehicle. Surely this can be described as distracted driving and dangerous behavior. Parents should caution teens against it. Adults should avoid texting while driving.

Playing it safe will save lives.