CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -
Admit it: you've texted while driving.
Experts say distracted driving is now the number 2 cause of deadly accidents -- right behind driving drunk. That's just one reason why Wednesday was named National Do Not Text and Drive Day.
Since 2009, North Carolina troopers have written 5,000 tickets for those who text while driving.
Charlotte driver Matt Fairweather was brave enough to cop to it but says he tries not to while he's actually driving.
"I do," he said. "You feel like you're looking up long enough, you're looking down not long enough for something to happen."
Another driver Henrietta Smith is adamant about why she doesn't text and drive.
"I want to be safe," she said. "I want to be here, it's not worth it."
If you're wondering what her secret is and how she resist checking her phone every time the notification goes off, she said "I have my phone set to where I don't get any notifications. I don't even know someone has sent me a message until I pick up the phone and look at it."
But there's another compelling reason Smith doesn't even look at her phone while behind the wheel.
"I took an oath couple of years ago online that I wouldn't text and drive."
Companies like AT&T are doing their part as well by making a 10 minute documentary with real-life stories of how deadly texting and driving can be. In fact, you've probably seen a commercial about featuring snippets of the documentary.
Stories like that are just one more reason Smith won't do it.
"It can wait, you don't have to be in a hurry for anything," she insisted.
If you're caught text while driving, N.C. troopers it will cost you $200 once you add in court costs.
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