Five seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting. Traveling at 55 mph, that's enough time to cover the length of a football field.

That information was conveyed to the Haleyville Rotary Club recently by Alabama State Trooper Ron Harper. Harper knows how dangerous distractions while driving can be. He also pointed out that engaging in visual-manual subtasks (such as reaching for a phone, dialing and texting) associated with the use of hand-held phones and other portable devices increases the risk of getting into a crash by three times.

Eleven percent (11%) of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. 

Trooper Harper emphasized the danger of texting while driving can be to you, but if someone else is texting and crosses over into your path, could be even as dangerous. 

The message, don't text and drive, its not just against the law, it could be the cause of your death. Plus drive defensively, watch out for others who may be distracted while driving.

For more information on the dangers of texting while driving visit: http://www.stoptextsstopwrecks.org/#facts