Texting and driving is risky at best and lethal at worst. To get even more information on how to stay safe while you are driving, please check out our Car Safety Guide. That resource provides plenty of suggestions to ensure you’re as safe as you can be on the road. *Data as of post date.
What happens to the brain while texting or during a cell phone call. MRI brain scans during driving simulations show that when a driver is concentrating on driving, the area of the brain that controls for spatial awareness is lit up.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 42 percent of teens surveyed admitted to texting and driving in the 30 days prior to the poll.
Distances covered while distracted by a cell phone or text. A car traveling at 40 mph covers a distance of almost 60 feet per second. At that speed, taking your eyes off the road for three seconds means you will cover a distance of almost 180 feet.
Tips to prevent distracted drivingPut your phone out of reach, such as in the glove box, back seat or trunk.Pull over and park safely if you need to use your phone to talk or text.Make a pledge to your family to never text or talk on the phone while driving.More items...
Sending a text message, talking on a cell phone, using a navigation system, and eating while driving are a few examples of distracted driving. Any of these distractions can endanger you, your passengers, and others on the road.
The Dangers of Texting and DrivingNot paying attention when Autopilot is enabled.Surfing the internet or talking on the phone;Taking a photo;Checking weather or maps;Viewing social media;Eating or drinking;Grooming;Utilizing audio controls or navigation system; and,More items...•
Studies have shown that the odds of being in a crash while texting are 23 times higher than driving without any distraction. Texting while driving is riskier than driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Tips to Avoid Distracted DrivingUse your cell phone for emergency situations only. ... If you are drowsy, pull off the road. ... You should limit the number of passengers, as well as the level of activity inside the car. ... Avoid eating while driving. ... Do your multi-tasking outside the car.
Top Eight Driving DistractionsDaydreaming.Using a cell phone.Looking at something outside the vehicle.Activities of passengers.Reaching for something on the dashboard, seat, or floor.Eating, drinking, or smoking.Changing the radio, climate control, or using a device in the car.More items...
Texting while driving causes 3,000 teen traffic fatalities every year. Thesis Statement: In order to save lives and millions of dollars in property damage, drivers need to leave their phones out of sight.
5 Ways to Get Drivers to Stop TextingThe direct approach. Say, "I'm sorry, but I get really nervous when people text and drive." Wait to see how the person responds. ... The subtle approach. ... The "Wow, look at that bad driver!" approach. ... The group approach. ... The life-saving approach.
Texting while driving is 6x more likely to cause an accident than driving drunk. Answering a text takes away your attention for about five seconds. Traveling at 55 mph, that's enough time to travel the length of a football field. Texting while driving causes a 400 percent increase in time spent with eyes off the road.
Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention.
In 2018, around 400,000 people were injured in accidents caused by distracted driving. 2 And drivers aged 16 to 24 are most likely to use a handheld device while driving. With so many less experienced drivers on the road using highly distracting devices, the potential for accidents—and thus injuries and fatalities—is incredibly high.
Other risks to texting on the road. Of course, lethal consequences or the chance of injuring someone are the biggest risk factors with texting and driving, but there are other risks as well. Here are some of the other risk factors to consider before you pick up your phone when you’re behind the wheel. You are probably breaking the law: In most ...
What Are the Dangers of Texting While Driving. Texting and driving is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving. In fact, the average text sent or read in a car takes a driver’s eyes off the road for 5 seconds. 1 This is more than enough time to get in a life-altering accident. Stay Safe!
A car traveling at 40 mph covers a distance of almost 60 feet per second. At that speed, taking your eyes off the road for three seconds means you will cover a distance of almost 180 feet. A lot can happen in that amount of time, especially when cars in the opposing lane are also traveling at 40 mph (a closure speed of 80 mph or 120 feet per second).#N#It can take up to 1 ½ to 2 full seconds from the time a driver perceives an emergency, decides what to do, and then, acts on that decision (braking or turning). During that critical 2 seconds, at 40 mph, the car will travel an additional 120 feet before the driver acts. If the driver has decided to brake, at 40 mph, it will take an additional 66 feet after the brakes are fully applied to come to a stop.
Texting is so dangerous that most states have worked quickly to enact bans on texting while driving. In some states, a driver who causes a crash by texting that result in death or injury will be charged with a felony and may face up to 20 years in prison. Utah drivers can face three months in prison just for texting while driving