Texting at the Wheel No JK

Law enforcement authorities are becoming increasingly concerned about the problem of teenagers texting and driving, especially as a generation of habitual button-tappers gets its licenses.

"It's the culture they grew up in," said California Hightway Patrol officer Steve Creel. "They think they can multi-task at everything."

According to safety experts, teenagers who type out a text message at the wheel are taking the equivalent risk of driving the length of a football field on a freeway with a blindfold on.

Texting is part of an overall campaign against distracted driving, and April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Martinez police are taking a , and will be on the lookout for anyone using a cellphone to talk or text.

“Distracted driving is a very serious issue.” said Martinez PD Chief Gary Peterson. “Is that text message or cell phone call really worth $159 or the increased chance of a collision?”

Distracted driving includes any sort of . That includes eating, drinking, talking to passengers, grooming, reading and watching videos.

Take a peek at the other drivers on the roads, and it's obvious that distracted driving is no small matter. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration estimates 3,000 people were killed in the United States in 2010 in distracted driving accidents. They also calculate that 16 percent of all crashes involve distracted driving.

However, texting is considered the worst offense because it involves visual, manual and cognitive skills — all of which are needed for driving.

Although all age groups are guilty of texting while driving, experts say teens are far more likely to break this law than anyone else.

The CHP has set up a website called Impact Teen Driving, which shares personal stories and statistics, including the fact that teen driver crashes are the leading cause of death for the nation's youth.

Safety officials note it takes an average of 4.6 seconds to receive or send a text message. If you're driving 55 miles per hour, you'll cover 100 yards in that time span.

Why do teens do it?

You can hear what some California High students in San Ramon think about texting and driving in the video attached to this story. It was put together by Cal High student Shalaka Gole.

Does your teen text and drive? How can it be prevented? Share your thoughts in the comments.