It may not be as bad as drunken driving, but texting and driving is quickly climbing the ladder on the list of driving precautions.

“Driving while texting has almost become equivalent to driving drunk,” UK Police Captain of Support Services Kevin Franklin said in a Sept. 22 Kernel article.

So far 19 states have banned texting and driving, according to the Kernel article, and Kentucky looks to be one of the next in line of states ready to take on the much needed legislation to stop the horrible practice that is causing so many accidents.

How many people get incomplete texts, messages with incomplete thoughts or spelling errors? Some people have enough trouble just texting.  Adding driving to a task that already troubles some is never a good equation.

Almost a year ago, the worst U.S. train crash in 15 years, killing 25 people, was caused due to the operator text messaging his girlfriend. Operating a train is different from operating a car, but it’s the same concept.

A study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institution concluded that a driver who is texting is 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident. So if states are banning texting and driving, studies suggest that it’s a problem and texting is difficult enough already, why is this still prevalent?

The major hang up, beyond it being horribly difficult to enforce, is the ignorance that some people employ to operate a vehicle. Whether or not you realize it, driving is an extremely dangerous task.

When an individual gets behind the wheel, they are operating a powerful machine that requires a lot of responsibility and a driver taking his or her eyes off the road to type in a message that could simply wait until they stopped is blatantly irresponsible.

Honestly, there are very few circumstances where a text message absolutely has to be responded to while driving, and if the situation is that serious, the person will probably call you.

Any distraction is going to be a problem, and individuals should do their best to eliminate all possible hazards within their control. Talking on the phone, eating or any other distracting task, should wait until the vehicle is stopped. Drivers have to be attentive when driving, and texting is charging to the forefront of bad driving habits.