Texting and Driving – A Deadly Combination

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Texting and driving is a deadly combination. While this might be easier for an adult to understand, teens have had a cell phone in their hand since a much younger age than that of their parents. It has become second nature to be constantly on their phones, as they have turned into another appendage.

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However, it is extremely important for any driver, and especially new drivers, to understand the gravity of texting or using apps while driving. Using your phone while driving can inflict danger and harm on yourself and everyone around you as it can cause you to lose control of your car.

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Some people might think that if they are looking away from the road for just a split second then nothing will go wrong. These people might also believe that they can multi-task. However, this couldn’t be more than true. Don't Text & Drive states that “Individuals who drive while sending or reading text messages are 23 times more likely to be involved in a car crash than other drivers [and] a crash typically happens within an average of three seconds after a driver is distracted”.

Below are some statistics on texting and driving (falling into the category of distracted driving) from Distraction.gov and why they can be a deadly combination:

• - Ten percent of all drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crashes. This age group has the largest proportion of driv­ers who were distracted at the time of the crashes. (NHTSA)
• - Drivers in their 20s are 23 percent of drivers in all fatal crashes, but are 27 percent of the distracted drivers and 38 percent of the dis­tracted drivers who were using cell phones in fatal crashes. (NHTSA)
• - The percentage of drivers text-messaging or visibly manipu­lating handheld devices increased from 1.7 percent in 2013 to 2.2 percent in 2014. Since 2007, young drivers (age 16 to 24) have been observed manipulating electronic devices at higher rates than older drivers. (NHTSA)
• - At any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving, a number that has held steady since 2010. (NOPUS)

All in all, being educated about texting and driving can help to save lives. Teach your children and teenagers, and set an example by not using your cell phone yourself until you are no longer operating your car.

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