The Dangers of Texting and Driving

Texting and driving has become a huge problem in this country. Many responsibilities are tied to driving and one of the most important is that we need to be careful on the roads and try to steer clear from distraction, the deadliest; texting and driving. Cell phone use while driving kills 3,300 distracted drivers every year, and only society can change this by simply remembering texting can wait.

Car crashes occur everyday and people are seriously injured, and if not killed. This should be a sign that people should use caution when driving. Unfortunately, there are reckless drivers that continue to drive unsafely because they feel one text cannot ruin their lives. However most people are surprised when they see the statistics related to texting and driving. Most people are even shocked to hear the terrifying stories that changed people’s lives forever. Despite the data and stories young adult drivers still text and drive. 73% of young people feel somewhat confident that they can safely text while driving. These people should think again because once that person is in an accident their lives will never be the same.

There are numerous reasons to stop using your cell phone when driving including the ability to save lives. Research shows that people are at a greater risk for an accident, which can lead to death, if texting and driving is happening. Cell phone distraction rates are alarmingly high and continue to rise.

General Cellphone Statistics

  • The National Safety Council reports that cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year.
  • Nearly 330,000 injuries occur each year from accidents caused by texting while driving.
  • 1 out of every 4-car accidents in the United States is caused by texting and driving.
  • 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% increase in time spent with eyes off the road.
  • Of all cell phone related tasks, texting is by far the most dangerous activity.
  • 94% of drivers support a ban on texting while driving.
  • 74% of drivers support a ban on hand-held cell phone use.

Teen Driver Cell Phone Statistics

  • 11 teens die every day as a result of texting while driving.
  • According to a AAA poll, 94% of teen drivers acknowledge the dangers of texting and driving, but 35% admitted to doing it anyway.
  • 21% of teen drivers involved in fatal accidents were distracted by their cell phones.
  • Teen drivers are 4x more likely than adults to get into car crashes or near-crashes when talking or texting on a cell phone.
  • A teen driver with only one additional passenger doubles the risk of getting into a fatal car accident. With two or more passengers, they are 5x as likely.

2013 U.S. Cell Phone and Driving Statistics

  • In 2013, 3,154 people were killed in distraction-related crashes.
  • About 424,000 people were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver.
  • In 2013, 10% of all drivers ages 15 to 19 involved in fatal accidents were reported to be distracted at the time of the crash.

All these statistics are reasons to put your phone down when driving because you could save a life. Even though there are numerous reasons to stop using your cell phone when driving it easier said than done. Many people use the excuse that “its just once”. One time could be all it takes for you to get into an accident. There are several ways to stop texting and driving. They have apps that send text messages, phone calls, and other notifications to voicemail. You could also stop other people from texting and driving like refusing to ride with that person, they will eventually get the hint. Or you could tell the driver that it makes you nervous when the text and drive. If the person truly respects you they will put down the phone.

Anyone is at risk for being the victim in an accident involving cell phones. Even if it was another driver that was guilty of texting and driving, it still has a negative influence on the people around you. If drivers put the phones down before getting into the car, accidents will decrease. Everyone can make a difference by pledging to not use your cell phone while driving. The smallest distraction can change your life forever.

Sources:

“Texting and Driving Statistics – Distracted Driving Drives Up Risk.”Edgarsnyder.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2016.

Slattery, Karen. “It Can Wait: The Deadly Effects of Phone Usage While Driving.” It Can Wait: The Deadly Effects of Phone Usage While Driving. Karen Slattery, 24 Feb. 2015. Web. 02 Mar. 2016.

2 Comments on The Dangers of Texting and Driving

  1. kem5833
    March 3, 2016 at 12:03 pm (8 years ago)

    This topic is relevant in today’s society, and the number of people who text and drive is more than alarming. I will openly admit that my driving skills are not the best, but a lot of people are in the same boat, so to think that they even consider texting and driving makes me scared. I wish we had more awareness on the issue, because it would truly save lives.

  2. mfk5181
    March 3, 2016 at 11:46 am (8 years ago)

    I’m so happy you wrote about this. I get so irritated when people I’m in the car with are texting. I actually used to be that annoying girlfriend and make my ex boyfriend hold my hand while he was driving not because I wanted to be clingy and cutesy and whatever, but because it was the only way to get him to put his phone down. I’ve also noticed that the majority of the time I see someone texting and driving, it’s actually an adult. I feel like teenagers get the most hate for it, but just as many adults do it. I think there should be some kind of thing that disables your cellphone when it detects that you’re in the driver’s seat of a car, but that would obviously be hard to invent and I am not that tech savvy.

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