Texting while driving is extremely dangerous. You’ve heard people tell you hundreds of times that it is not safe to text behind the wheel. Why is that the case, though? What makes texting so dangerous?
Texting takes the average driver’s eyes off the road for 4.6 seconds. What can you do in 4.6 seconds? You could run the entire length of a football field. Imagine driving the length of a football field without looking at where you’re going … you can see why it is a serious problem.
Among teenagers, texting and driving has become more dangerous than drinking and driving. It takes the lives of more teenagers than drinking and driving does each year.
With up to 90 percent of people agreeing that texting and driving is dangerous, it’s shocking that people still choose to text while they’re behind the wheel. Here are some statistics that point out just how dangerous it really is.
Cellphones are part of around 1.6 million auto accidents every year. If a truck driver is texting behind the wheel, he is 23 times more likely to be in an accident. Over 3,000 teens die every year because of crashes that are caused by texting and driving.
Who is making it seem like it’s okay to text and drive?
Forty-eight percent of younger drivers reported that they have seen their parents text behind the wheel. That is why it’s so important to put your mind back on the road and to put your phone down. Younger people mimic relatives and older friends, so keep that in mind and keep your eyes looking forward.
If someone collides with you because of texting behind the wheel, you’d have the right to pursue a claim. With the right support, you can make those responsible pay for their actions.
Source: Integrity Insurance, “Dangers of texting while driving,” accessed July 25, 2017