Texting and Driving - A Deadly Problem
A recent survey has revealed that 95% of all drivers think that texting behind the wheel is both unacceptable and a safety risk. However, 21% of the total number of respondents to the survey admits to sending and receiving text messages while behind the wheel. Teens are even more vulnerable to distractions such as texting while driving. More than half of the teens surveyed admitted to texting while behind the wheel. Some people think that with practice at driving, the risk of a distracted driving accident goes down. However, this is an incorrect perception because texting and driving is, in fact, a deadly problem for any driver at any age, regardless of experience. Statistics have shown that 16% of teen motor vehicle deaths were associated with sending and/or receiving text messages or emails while operating a motor vehicle.
In one reported accident, a young driver who had sent and received text messages right before crashing into a truck created a chain collision involving several different vehicles. This incident resulted in several deaths and a number of injuries both severe and minor. Texting while driving is said to be riskier than making phone calls using a handheld phone while driving, and also more dangerous than driving while under the influence of alcohol.
As a distracted driving activity, sending and receiving text messages while operating a motor vehicle can increase the risk of accident 23 times more than unimpaired driving. Distraction greatly affects how a driver responds to changes, threats, and warnings on the road. This impairs the driver's alertness and his or her ability to respond quickly and appropriately in the event that something beyond his or her control comes up. A person who texts and drives is more than twice as likely to crash his or her car because he or she normally spends 4.6 seconds with his or her eyes off the road. This is how this distracted driving activity has endangered life, and has resulted in fatal consequences.
It is estimated that upwards of 20% of all car accidents each year result from distracted driving. Distracted driving is also said to be the number one killer of teens in the US every year. This is one of the many reasons sending and receiving text messages or e-mails while driving has been banned in most states in the country. This has been a move to preserve safety of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
In one reported accident, a young driver who had sent and received text messages right before crashing into a truck created a chain collision involving several different vehicles. This incident resulted in several deaths and a number of injuries both severe and minor. Texting while driving is said to be riskier than making phone calls using a handheld phone while driving, and also more dangerous than driving while under the influence of alcohol.
As a distracted driving activity, sending and receiving text messages while operating a motor vehicle can increase the risk of accident 23 times more than unimpaired driving. Distraction greatly affects how a driver responds to changes, threats, and warnings on the road. This impairs the driver's alertness and his or her ability to respond quickly and appropriately in the event that something beyond his or her control comes up. A person who texts and drives is more than twice as likely to crash his or her car because he or she normally spends 4.6 seconds with his or her eyes off the road. This is how this distracted driving activity has endangered life, and has resulted in fatal consequences.
It is estimated that upwards of 20% of all car accidents each year result from distracted driving. Distracted driving is also said to be the number one killer of teens in the US every year. This is one of the many reasons sending and receiving text messages or e-mails while driving has been banned in most states in the country. This has been a move to preserve safety of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.