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Kansas City Police Tackle Teen Driver Texting

Texting while driving is the subject of an upcoming Kansas City informational campaign for young people.

According to police Major Richard Lockhart, about half of the 27 persons who have died in Kansas City traffic accident this year were under 25, but he told a city council committee on Wednesday that the number of fatalities that involved texting is uncertain.

Lockhart says that's because most people won't admit they were texting when they were involved in an accident.  He says police believe that because people won't confess to the unsafe habit, it under-reported as a contributing factor in  fatal accidentse.

Kansas City police do have some jaw-dropping tales about those did admit they caused a fatality while texting,  Lockhart tells of one female texter who like the lady that pulled out in front of a bicyclist near the Harley-Davidson  plant.

The bike rider died of his injuries, but Lockhart says even after the accident the woman stayed on her phone and continued testing, not even showing any concern about the man.

Police will soon start an educational campaign to try to impress Kansas City high school students that distracted driving is deadly.

Lockhart says the number one factor in fatal accidents is excessive speed and that 80 percent of those killed in Kansas City last year were not using seat belts.

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