U.S. Air Force photo by Thomas Dennis Texting while driving is becoming an increasing threat to motorists' health and safety on the road. According to the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, cell phone distractions cause 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the U.S. each year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that the chance of getting into an accident increases by 300% if a driver is using a cell phone while driving.

We take road rage with a grain of salt and hope to make it to our destination in one piece.

Sadly enough, we have also become all too familiar with cell phone usage while driving. Either we are guilty of this ourselves or continuously witness those individuals in the next lane perform their morning juggling act. Some of us shake our heads in disgust as we reluctantly watch the a driver with one hand holding their morning coffee, talking or texting on a cell phone with the other hand, while balancing the steering wheel with a knee.

We wonder, “What is the holdup?“ during our commute. Traffic accidents are on the rise because drivers are trying to hold a conversation while driving.

According to the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, cell phone distractions have caused 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the U.S. each year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that the chance of getting into an accident increases by 300% if a driver is talking on a cell phone while driving. NHTSA also stated that 25% of all traffic accidents are a result of distracted drivers.

In the District of Columbia and on Bolling Air Force Base, cell phone laws are “black and white.“

You are only allowed to use a cell phone with a hands free device while driving. The only people allowed to use a cell phone while driving are those responding to an emergency call. Hands free devices such as blue tooth or ear pieces are the only types of devices permitted while driving. We have all witnessed drivers who attempt to evade this law by putting cell phones on speaker while still holding a phone. This is not legal hands-free usage. If a driver is cited for talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device in D.C., the driver will face a $100 fine and have two points deducted from their driver's license.

For anyone who takes driving while talking on a cell phone lightly, please know that this offense is considered a primary offense, which means that law enforcement officials can cite a driver for this offense without having a preceding violation or reason for citing you.

An even stronger stance is taken with texting while driving. Texting while operating a motor vehicle is prohibited.

Some of us are guilty of sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic with nothing much to do but wait. We figure since the traffic isn't moving, there is no crime in sending a few text messages to pass the time. When tempted, keep in mind that texting while driving is prohibited by law.

Your ultimate focus should be on the bumper sticker ahead of you and not on the keyboard of your latest cell phone.

As a vehicle operator, we are entrusted to drive alert and with intent.

In order to reduce the cell phone-related traffic infractions, put safety first: our lives count on it. Safety is paramount.