Texting and Driving

Distracted driving is becoming a dangerous epidemic on America's roads. In 2009 alone, nearly 5,500 people were killed and 450,000 more were injured in distracted driving crashes.  Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving. All of these distractions endanger the driver, passengers, and bystanders. These types of distractions could include texting or talking on the phone, eating or drinking, talking to passengers, any kind of grooming, reading (including maps), using a navigation system, or adjusting a radio or MP3 player (Highway Traffic Safety Administration).

But, because text messaging requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver, it is by far the most alarming distraction. Sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds -- the equivalent of driving BLIND at 55 mph for the length of an entire football field (Facts and Stats). A new national NHTSA survey offers some insight into how drivers behave when it comes to texting and cell phone use while behind the wheel and their perceptions of the safety risks of distracted driving. More than 75% of survey respondents said they answer calls on most trips, they acknowledge few driving situations when they would not use the phone or text, and yet they feel unsafe when riding in vehicles in which the driver is texting (Highway Traffic Safety Administration).

The use of cell phones while driving, for both texting and talking, is receiving national attention. To address the concern of cell phone use while driving most U.S. States have enacted some sort of cell phone or texting ban. Drivers younger than 25 are two to three times more likely than older drivers to read or send text messages while they are driving. In Missouri, it is illegal, and punishable by a $200 fine, to text while driving if you are 21 or younger. This is a primary law, which means that the police officer does not have to have any other reason to pull you over (NHTSA).

References:

Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (n.d.). Distracted Driving: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Distracted Driving. Retrieved February 11, 2012, from http://www.distraction.gov/

Facts and Stats | Texting and Driving. (n.d.). Distracted Driving | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | Texting and Driving. Retrieved February 12, 2012, from http://www.distraction.gov/content/get-the-facts/facts-and-statistics.html 

NHTSA. (n.d.). Distracted Driving Survey. Distraction.gov. Retrieved February 12, 2012, from www.distraction.gov/download/research-pdf/8396_DistractedDrivingSurvey-120611-v3.pdf