A 21 year old TCU student, Catherine Ratelle, was arrested on Friday night after she had been drinking and texting while driving. She crashed into a tree near the TCU Library up the street.
Ratelle had a blood alcohol content of .15 — almost two times the legal limit of .08.
She flipped her Jeep Liberty over and it landed on its side. It is lucky she – or other drivers — were not seriously injured.
Ratelle was arrested and booked. She posted a $2,500 bond.
I often talk about the dangers of driving while intoxicated — and driving while texting – especially by younger drivers. I have had to sue or file claims against plenty of them. But this is the first time I’ve read about someone doing both at the same time.
I strongly believe — along with 80% of Americans — that cell phone texting while driving should be restricted.
After all, statistics show that using a cell phone (even hands free) is comparable to having a blood alcohol content of .08%. And that a driver is four times as likely to get involved in an injury collision if he is texting while driving. And that 25% of accidents involve distracted driving.
Why do we allow the tragic loss of life, tremendous injuries, and vast property damage, just so people can dangerously drive while they are not watching the road? DWIs are illegal. What aren’t DWTs?