Editor’s note: Today’s letters to the editor are from Southwest Junior High students learning about persuasive writing.

To the editor:

People should not be allowed to drive while using a cell phone because it is very dangerous and serious accidents can occur. According to galegroup.com auto crashes are the No. 1 cause of death for those ages 15 to 20 years old. Driving while talking on a cell phone can be worse than drunk driving.

Cell phone distraction causes 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the U.S. every year. I think that people should just buy a Bluetooth so that they can have both hands on the steering wheel. Also, I think if you need to talk on the phone or text then you should just have the passenger talk or text for you. Also unless it’s an emergency and you don’t have a passenger then you should not answer the phone.

Drivers talking on cell phones were 18 percent slower to react to brake lights according to livescience.com. In California in 2001, at least 4,699 reported accidents were blamed on drivers using cell phones; those crashes killed 31 people and injured 2,786.

So we should encourage laws that say hang up and drive, so we can feel safer on the road.

Cameron Pope

Southwest Junior High