Take The Pledge Not To Text And Drive
Local News 8 wants families to commit to turning off the phone until they get to their destination. At the very least ? text later! Idaho State Police say driving while texting is worse than driving intoxicated. And one trooper knows that firsthand.
On July 1, a new law goes into effect in Idaho. No more texting while driving. If you get caught, you?ll be $85, but worse, if you get into an accident. You could die or kill someone else.
Two years ago, Cpl. Peter Sibus was nearly killed on Interstate 15 by a driver who was texting.
“I was going down to assist another trooper and as I was traveling south on the interstate I saw some debris and cars were swerving around it,? he said.
So Sibus went back to the shredded-tire debris on the interstate. He was parked in the fast lane next to the guardrail with his lights on.
“I get out of the car and take about three steps and looking behind me to throw a piece of debris off the road. (I) look back again, and then I see the car coming I know he does not see me and he’s not slowing down, so I just run out of the way. “
The driver admitted he was texting. He told the officer he didn?t even see the patrol car.
At 75 mph, he center punched the trunk of the corporal?s car. The texter?s car rolled. It?s a miracle no one died.
?At 75 miles an hour you would roughly travel about 120 feet per second. If you look down for 3 or 4 seconds at a text, how far have you traveled and you’re not looking? He never saw my car. He admitted he never saw me,? said Sibus.
On Tuesday night from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at RE/MAX on Woodruff in Idaho Falls, Local News 8 wants families to stop by and sign a pledge they will not text and drive. As a reward, we?ll give you a window sticker that could very well lead to you winning big prizes.
