If you have a teen taking to the road this summer, Hawaii Island trauma centers want you to have the talk about texting. Recognized as a potential cause behind increases in motor vehicle fatalities, texting and driving is a major form of distraction common among motorists, especially in teens. In an effort to raise Hawaii’s awareness about this danger, Kona Community Hospital, Hilo Medical Center, and North Hawaii Community Hospital launched their “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” event.

To help save lives in your community, the community is encouraged to use the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer to highlight the dangerous realities of distracted driving. To get started, consider and share these three facts about texting and driving dangers.

3 Facts on How Texting & Driving Can Put You in the Hospital — or Worse

1. Motor Vehicle Fatalities Are Rising

A preliminary 2017 report from the National Safety Council suggests that motor vehicle deaths increased by 6% in 2015 — a trend that has been building in recent years. Hawaii’s data from the Fatal Analysis Reporting System reveals a similar pattern, showing that 2016 vehicle-related deaths were 47% higher than the yearly average.

While the spike in on-road deaths can be attributed to many different causes, it remains clear that it is highly important for drivers to keep their eyes on the road, not on their phones.

2. Texting Is Three Different Distractions at Once

Of all the driving distractions, texting remains one of the biggest concerns. Texting mixes three different kinds of distractions — specifically, texting requires the driver to take their eyes off the road, their hands off the wheel, and their mind off of driving while they shift focus.

3. Teens Are at the Highest Risk of Texting & Driving

Although adults of all ages are guilty of texting and driving, teens seem to be at particular risk. Nearly one in three teens admitted to texting while driving in a 2009 Pew Interest report. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stats from the same year revealed that 16% of all distracted driving crashes involve motorists under 20 years old. That group also reported that out of all age groups, teen drivers were the most likely to be involved in fatal crashes associated with distracted driving.

Although the numbers are startling, the Kona Community Hospital trauma center staff believes they can improve. To reduce the need for emergency physician services and save lives, this hospital encourages you to tell your children, your friends, and other family members about the dangers of distracted driving. Next, recognize the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer by making a family commitment to keep texting out of the driver’s seat. For more info on this event — as well as other health care and services in Kealakekua, HI — visit their website and follow them on Facebook.