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Poll taken: Do you talk or text on your cell while driving?

Next poll: Would you report someone you saw shoplifting? Send replies to cathnews@bellevillemessenger.org or call 233-8670.

This time no one emailed us a response, so, wanting to know what young people were thinking, the help of the campus ministers at the three Catholic high schools was enlisted, and they came through with some interesting information. Most of the young people believe it is dangerous and irresponsible to text and drive.

The young people concentrated on that aspect of the question rather than the talking and driving although some did consider talking and driving a risk as well. It might be a good idea to have a conversation about talking/texting and driving. You might be surprised at the results.

From Althoff Catholic High School in Belleville, John Bouc, campus minister, polled 27 seniors. Here are the results: Twenty-seven of the 27 said they talk on their cells while driving, and all of them said they text as well.

Bouc also discovered five of 19 who had been in accidents had been on the phone at the time.

Their comments: “Driving while (talking) on phone is not bad at all (because) your eyes always stay on the road.”
“Texting while driving is a lot worse because I’ll be texting and then catch myself drifting into the next lane or something.”

At Gibault Catholic High School in Waterloo, Sister Elaine Freund, ASC polled 31 juniors and asked them to describe texting while driving with one word: The winner was “dangerous.”

At Mater Dei Catholic High School in Breese, Jim Darr, campus minister, asked for students responses. Here is a sampling: “Driving and texting is okay as long as you pay attention to the road still.

“Driving and texting is very dangerous because if I look at the radio I swerve so if I’m texting I would run
off the road.

"Driving and texting can be very dangerous. It shouldn’t be done in any situation.

"Driving and texting is okay sometimes. It can be dangerous if you do it all the time, but it’s okay if it’s and emergency.

"Driving and texting is fine. You must know the proper time though. In the country with less stopping and cars is better than driving in town with constant stops.

"I think that you should not text and drive at the same time. It is dangerous. You put yourself and others in danger.

"I think texting and driving is bad because if you’re looking at your phone all your attention can’t be on the road.

"I text and drive at the same time and it has caused me no danger. I think driving on certain roads is dangerous and some roads are not too bad.

"I think driving and texting is bad to do. It can be very distracting and it can cause many accidents. But it is not always bad. If you are a very perspective person, then I suppose it’s okay. If you constantly do it, it’s probably not a good thing, but if you do it just a little, it’s okay.

"I think if you’re parked or at a stoplight it’s fine. Make sure you’re paying attention and in the clear of cops. Otherwise no, it’s not a good choice at all unless it’s voice activated.

"I think that it is bad because my brother was texting and driving and went in the ditch and had over a thousand dollars in repairs.

"I believe that driving while texting is an irresponsible act. While driving you should only be focused on the road and driving.

"Driving and texting is not okay. It causes accidents and deaths. Texting is too distracting to the point where they aren’t paying attention to the road.

"My opinion about driving and texting is all okay as long as you have a phone with a voice dialer. My phone has a voice dialer that will text while you talk so it’s okay. Nothing is wrong with it.

"Driving and texting is very dangerous because if I look at the radio I swerve so if I’m texting I would run off the road.

"I do not think it is okay. Anytime I see it I tell the person to stop or wait. It is too dangerous and too much of a risk.


Don't forget to weigh in on the next poll: Would you report someone you saw shoplifting? Send replies to cathnews@bellevillemessenger.org or call 233-8670.