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Pulitzer Prize-Winner Matt Richtel Investigates Texting And Driving

This is an encore interview with Matt Richtel.  It was originally broadcast in November, 2014.

We’ve all heard the message by now: Texting while driving is dangerous. Yet each year, texting is a factor in more than 280,000 automobile accidents in the United States. And texting behind the wheel has now surpassed drunk driving as the number one cause of death for teenagers in our country.

In his book, “A Deadly Wandering: A Tale of Tragedy and Redemption in the Age of Attention,” Matt Richtel explores why technological distractions are often irresistible for drivers, despite the known dangers.  The book focuses on the tragic, yet ultimately inspiring story of one of the first widely known fatal accidents caused by texting. By telling this story and explaining the latest research, Mr. Richtel offers valuable insights into the magnetic draw our gadgets have on the human mind, and the potential repercussions for society.

This timely and important book was selected as Boise State’s Campus Read for this academic year. Mr. Richtel will be visiting campus on Monday the 9th of November to talk about “A Deadly Wandering.” His lecture is at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Jordan Ballroom, and is free and open to the public.

Mr. Richtel is a novelist, cartoonist and reporter for the New York Times based in San Francisco. His series of articles about the risks of distracted driving and its root causes won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting.

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