The Dangers of Driving and Texting
Studies Show Text Messaging and Driving is Worse than Driving Drunk
Aug 24, 2009
Although many people do it, few of them realize the dangers inherent in driving while texting on a cell phone. Because focusing on the phone takes the driver’s attention away from the road, many researchers believe that texting and driving is far more dangerous than drinking and driving. The proposed legislation would make texting and driving a moving vehicle illegal, although texting in a stopped car would not be.
Texting while Driving is a Popular but Dangerous Habit
Many teens report that using their cell phones for text messaging and making phone calls is the number one distraction they have while driving. The new legislation would help reduce this issue by making it against the law for anyone to use a cell phone for text messaging while driving. Some states already have such legislation in place in an attempt to reduce the number of accidents and deaths caused by drivers who stop watching the road to use a cell phone.
Studies done by phone companies, universities and research centers have shown that teens and other drivers who text message while driving are at much greater risk for an accident. Although driving while talking on a cell phone has been given a huge amount of legal attention in recent years, it is rapidly becoming apparent that driving while texting presents a more serious danger.
Talking and Texting on Cell Phones are Major Distractions for Drivers
Sending or reading text messages while driving takes the driver’s focus off the road both visually and physically; many drivers will take one or both hands away from the steering wheel and look at the phone. In doing so, the attention given to the action of driving is reduced greatly –even focusing on a cell phone for a split second is enough to cause an accident.
Other studies have shown that even using a wireless headset to talk or text while driving creates a major split in the focus of a driver; because their attention turns to talking, it becomes more difficult to concentrate on driving. While traveling in busy areas, this presents a big risk for all drivers. (Source: Gadgetwise)
Ways to Avoid Texting While Driving
Many cell phone companies, Sprint and CTIA (The Wireless Association) among them, support a ban on driving while texting (DWT) but also feel that the most important issue at stake is to educate drivers about the risks that come along with driving and text messaging. Public service announcements, ads, videos and online courses have been promoted that show the dangers of driving and texting in the hopes that teens and adults will understand just how unsafe it is to use a phone while operating a vehicle.
Knowing the risks is one of the first steps in avoiding it; researchers and legislators alike agree that texting while driving is an incredibly dangerous practice. Working to get the information out that will help drivers make safer decisions in conjunction with the legislation that will enforce it is one way in which the roads will be made safer for drivers. (Source: MSN)
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