This is a companion entry to "Cellphone Addiction and Distraction" that can be found by scrolling down three posts.
It continues to amaze me that despite the clear and present danger of texting and using cell phones, even hands-free, many drivers consider the risk worth the price of getting into an accident. It seems to be the prevalent attitude that “it will not happen to me”, of course until it does happen. It is similar to the use of seat belts and the total disregard for the data from the last 50 years that proves that seat belts save lives. Unfortunately, we see in news programs that many people die and are injured because of distracted driving and the lack of seat belt use.
At any given time during daylight hours, 700,000 drivers in the United States use cell phones. Whether it is texting, taking a phone call, or sending emails, cell phone use is associated with higher rates of dangerous or fatal car crashes. Accidents involving drivers using their cell phones are avoidable but many people put everyone’s safety at risk by ignoring laws against distracted driving.
It continues to amaze me that despite the clear and present danger of texting and using cell phones, even hands-free, many drivers consider the risk worth the price of getting into an accident. It seems to be the prevalent attitude that “it will not happen to me”, of course until it does happen. It is similar to the use of seat belts and the total disregard for the data from the last 50 years that proves that seat belts save lives. Unfortunately, we see in news programs that many people die and are injured because of distracted driving and the lack of seat belt use.
At any given time during daylight hours, 700,000 drivers in the United States use cell phones. Whether it is texting, taking a phone call, or sending emails, cell phone use is associated with higher rates of dangerous or fatal car crashes. Accidents involving drivers using their cell phones are avoidable but many people put everyone’s safety at risk by ignoring laws against distracted driving.
- Texting while driving makes a driver 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident. Drivers talking on a cell phone are 4 times more likely to have a car accident.
- Talking on a cell phone while driving can make a young driver's reaction time decrease by a significant factor.
- Answering a text takes away your attention for about five seconds. That is enough time to travel the length of a football field when travelling at 55 MPH.
- Studies have found that texting while driving causes a 400 % increase in time spent with eyes off the road.
- 94% of drivers support bans on texting while driving.
- 74% of drivers support bans on hand-held cell phone use.
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