U.S. CONGRESSMAN BILL JOHNSON Proudly Representing Eastern and Southeastern Ohio

U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson tried out a similator at Salem Regional Medical Center, holding a phone with text messages appearing while attempting to operate a computerized driving program.

"Someone else was texting," Johnson explained after another simulated driver crashed into him.

Steve Kirsten, state external affairs director for AT&T, explained when someone is texting it delays their reaction time if another driver should recklessly pull out into their path. Kirsten noted a 16-year-old driver pulled out in front of him once leaving him with eight broken bones.

The simulator was part of an AT&T It Can Wait Event at SRMC on Wednesday, which was meant to create more awareness to the growing problem of people texting or using their smartphones while driving.

"I'm guilty," admitted John Dawson, M.D., the assistant director of emergency medicine at the SRMC. "I've done this and I know better."

Dawson pointed out while technology has made our lives better, some people are so addicted to their phones they cannot put them down. He recently saw a man, immobilized on a back board following a traffic crash, coming through the hospital holding his phone above him so he could continue to text.

Kirsten said of the 25 people attending the event at SRMC, statistics show 16 of them will use their phones in their vehicles when they leave and three of them will be involved in video chatting while driving.

Traveling through his long 6th District stretching through many counties on a regular basis, Johnson said he sees some drivers doing some awful things on the roads. He noted 3,000 people died in 2013 due to someone accessing their phones, not just texting, but doing other things like surfing the internet or checking Facebook.

With a 13-year-old old son and some grandchildren approaching driving age, Johnson said he believes it is more important than ever to highlight the safety issues associated with driving and using technology.

Lt. Brian Holt of the Ohio State Highway Patrol also noted how important it is for people to realize the dangers and how many injuries, deaths and property crashes could be avoided simply by waiting to check the phone. He insists when law enforcement reminds a driver about their phone use, they are not the "unreasonable person." Instead he noted texting and driving impairs the driver, not unlike driving while intoxicated.

The simulator was in the lobby of the SRMC for people to try out throughout Wednesday. There was also a pledge for people to sign agreeing to cease driving while distracted.