The Dangerous Trend of Texting and Driving
Text messaging has become a social norm in recent years.
The use of smart phones, which allow users to communicate through email and social media, has greatly increased as well.
Those who adopt these tools of convenience often become accustomed to their continual connection and have difficulty turning off, or separating themselves from their phones.
This situation can be especially problematic when someone behind the wheel of a motor vehicle is distracted by their mobile device.
When drivers use a cell phone for text messaging, email, or web-use, they are using visual, manual, and cognitive attention which should be focused on the road.
Many drivers believe that they are able to send text messages without negatively affecting their driving ability.
This is especially true for new drivers, who are statistically the most distracted by their mobile devices.
No matter ones age, according to countless well publicized studies, drivers who text are considerably less aware of their surroundings; including brake lights, pedestrians, lane placement, and other vehicles.
The number of accidents attributed to driver distraction is steadily increasing every year.
Many believe that the rising statistic has been only amplified by the use of cell phones while driving; giving reason for many states to have outlawed texting while driving or cell phone usage all together.
All cell phone use while driving has been banned in 12 states (Connecticut, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Washington, and West Virginia) and Washington D.
C.
Similarly, novice drivers have restricted use of their mobile devices in 37 states and Washington D.
C.
Text messaging has the most widespread ban, being prohibited in 41 states and Washington D.
C.
Below are statistics from the official US government website for distracted driving (distraction.
gov) relating to distracted driving/cell phone usage:
The use of smart phones, which allow users to communicate through email and social media, has greatly increased as well.
Those who adopt these tools of convenience often become accustomed to their continual connection and have difficulty turning off, or separating themselves from their phones.
This situation can be especially problematic when someone behind the wheel of a motor vehicle is distracted by their mobile device.
When drivers use a cell phone for text messaging, email, or web-use, they are using visual, manual, and cognitive attention which should be focused on the road.
Many drivers believe that they are able to send text messages without negatively affecting their driving ability.
This is especially true for new drivers, who are statistically the most distracted by their mobile devices.
No matter ones age, according to countless well publicized studies, drivers who text are considerably less aware of their surroundings; including brake lights, pedestrians, lane placement, and other vehicles.
The number of accidents attributed to driver distraction is steadily increasing every year.
Many believe that the rising statistic has been only amplified by the use of cell phones while driving; giving reason for many states to have outlawed texting while driving or cell phone usage all together.
All cell phone use while driving has been banned in 12 states (Connecticut, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Washington, and West Virginia) and Washington D.
C.
Similarly, novice drivers have restricted use of their mobile devices in 37 states and Washington D.
C.
Text messaging has the most widespread ban, being prohibited in 41 states and Washington D.
C.
Below are statistics from the official US government website for distracted driving (distraction.
gov) relating to distracted driving/cell phone usage:
- 10% of injury crashes in 2011 were reported as distraction-affected crashes.
- In 2011, 3,331 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver, compared to the 3,267 of 2010.
- 11% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash.
This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted at the time of a crash. - At any given daylight moment across the United States, it is approximated that 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or using electronic devices while driving.
- Sending or reading a text message takes a driver's eye from the road for an average of 4.
6 seconds; the distance traveled at a rate of 55 mph during this length of time is equivalent to an entire football field. - Headset cell phone use has proven to not be substantially safer than hand-held devices.
