There isn’t any query that texting whereas driving is extraordinarily harmful and irresponsible. Because of this most states all through the nation have made cellphone use behind the wheel unlawful. Though many drivers, particularly younger ones, proceed to take part in cellphone use behind the wheel, many are unaware of how lethal this conduct will be.
Car accidents are a big contributor to the annual loss of life toll in america, inflicting over 146,000 deaths in 2015 alone. Ronald Bua, a Pittsburgh damage lawyer and distracted driving security advocate, says that decreasing cellphone use behind the wheel can drastically scale back that quantity, and is one thing that folks, advocates and drivers ought to work on.
However I’m Good at it
Many drivers suppose that they’re “good” at texting and driving. That is the equal to saying you’re good at driving blindfolded—you’re not. Many drivers suppose that texting and driving is harmful for everybody however themselves and delude themselves of the danger they assume after they take part in it.
Most research, just like the one from King’s School and AT&T’s Teen Driver Survey amongst others, consistently discover that drivers know texting whereas driving is extraordinarily harmful, and but they do it anyway.
Among the statistics behind texting and driving accidents are astonishing. Probably the most stunning details embrace:
- Individuals who textual content whereas driving are 6 occasions extra more likely to get into an accident than those that drive whereas intoxicated. In brief, you’re much less more likely to get into an accident whereas driving drunk than you’re whereas texting behind the wheel.
- The typical period of time a driver takes to kind out a textual content message is 5 seconds. For those who’re driving 55 mph and look all the way down to textual content for 5 seconds, you’ve already pushed the size of a soccer subject. In 2014, the Journal of Adolescent Well being reported that the utmost period of time a driver can safely look away from the highway is simply two seconds.
- 11 youngsters die day by day resulting from texting and driving. Youngsters are 400% extra more likely to get into an accident from texting and driving. AT&T’s Teen Driver Survey discovered that 97% of youngsters suppose it’s harmful, whereas 43% of them interact within the exercise anyway.
- In accordance with the Nationwide Security Council, cellphone use whereas driving results in 6 million accidents per 12 months.
- Drivers distracted by texting are 8 occasions extra more likely to be concerned in a collision than non-distracted drivers.
- A College of Utah research reported {that a} teen driver who’s utilizing a cellphone has the identical response time as a 70-year-old driver who isn’t utilizing a cellphone.
- 64% of all automobile accidents in america annually are brought about from cellphone utilization behind the wheel—that’s 1.6 million accidents.
- Since 2010, over 660,000 drivers are utilizing cell telephones whereas driving at any given second in america. The Workplace of Site visitors Security chalks this as much as how addicted People have turn out to be to know-how and cell telephones.
- 520 pedestrians had been killed by distracted drivers in america in 2014.
- 421,000 individuals in america are injured annually by a distracted driver.
What’s the Resolution?
Sufficient individuals die in automobile accidents annually to wipe out the inhabitants in simply two human life cycles—with distracted driving being a serious contributor to these deaths. Many corporations and state governments are racing to find out the answer to distracted driving—apps that reward you for not utilizing your cellphone whereas behind the wheel, vehicles that block cellphone alerts and rising fines for cell-phone-use citations.
However many consultants agree that the start of a distracted driving resolution is the drivers themselves. Our tradition has turn out to be deeply obsessive about know-how and our telephones. Studying to curb these impulses, whether or not or not it’s turning your cellphone off or inserting it within the backseat, can prepare drivers to get into the behavior of leaving their telephones alone whereas working a motorized vehicle. Moreover, security consultants urge mother and father to set a very good instance by disregarding their telephones whereas their kids are within the automobile.
By understanding how lethal and harmful texting and driving is, we will help forestall future generations from collaborating on this detrimental exercise. For extra data and to remain up-to-date on distracted driving information, go to the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration’s distracted driving web site.
Lauren Bennett is a content material advertising specialist primarily based in San Diego, CA. She works with legislation companies and public security organizations all through the nation to craft custom-tailored content material constructed to teach the general public concerning the risks of distracted and impaired driving. This text was initially printed by Driver’s Alert.
