A driver who is reading or sending texts or emails on their phone while driving is a hazard to everyone who shares the road. The popularity of mobile devices continues to skyrocket, leading to potentially dangerous consequences. Americans—particularly teenagers—have developed a bad habit of texting while driving, even though distracted driving can lead to injury or death.
In 2010, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that distracted driving caused 18 percent of all fatal crashes, with over 3,000 people killed and many more injured. If that doesn’t snap you into realizing the danger, try some of these stats.
· Forty percent of American teens say they have been in a car with a driver who put passengers in danger by texting behind the wheel.
· Texting increases a driver’s collision risk by 23 times.
· Eleven percent of teen drivers who were involved in a collision admitted they were reading or sending a text when they crashed.
A study by Car and Drive Magazine compared the reaction times between texting drivers and drunk drivers. Using a red light to alert drivers to brake, the test measured reaction times for sober drivers, drunk drivers, drivers reading an email and drivers sending a text. The results showed slower reaction times for emailing and texting, suggesting that using a mobile device while driving is even more dangerous than drunk driving.
There are no national bans on texting while driving, however, some state have passed laws doing just that. Regardless of laws, the best way to express the importance of this issue to your children is to lead by example. Do not text while driving and always use caution while on the road. Adopting an
“on the road, off the phone” policy can inspire to your children to behave similarly.
Always drive safely and avoid distractions while on the road. Call Tabitha E. Walker Insurance Agency at (540) 657-5633 for more information on Fredericksburg car insurance.