Texting and driving is one of the most dangerous things a driver can do, and it is a major source of preventable traffic fatalities and deaths. Anti-texting and driving campaigns and initiatives have been sweeping the country in recent years, but that has not stopped many drivers from continuing to text.
Alarming Texting and Driving Statistics
Below are a few statistics we collected from sources including the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It is our hope that these statistics will hit home and spark real change – and potentially save lives.
- Texting while driving makes you 23 times more susceptible to crashing.
- One of the most dangerous aspects of texting while driving is that it distracts you in three ways: visually, cognitively and manually. In other words, when you text and drive, you are driving blindly, without your hands, and without thinking about the task at hand.
- Every time you text (which usually takes roughly five seconds), you are essentially driving blindly for the entire length of a football field when going 55 mph.
- One in five accidents involve a driver who is distracted, and texting is one of the most common distractions for drivers.
- Twenty percent of drivers admit to surfing the Web while driving.
- Most states, including Pennsylvania, ban texting while driving. Plus, in PA, it is considered a primary offense, which means an officer can pull you over for no other reason other than texting.
- More than 40 percent of teens admit to texting while driving. (Mind you, these are only the ones who admit it.)
- Teens who text while driving spend 10 percent of their time outside of their lane.
- Almost all surveyed drivers (95 percent) say that texting while driving is unacceptable, but 20 percent admit to doing it anyway.
- At any given moment across the United States, approximately 660,000 drivers use their handheld devices while driving.
Other Things to Consider about Texting while Driving
The above facts should be enough to convince you to put the phone away while driving. If you need more of a nudge, consider this: If you are a parent, it is your responsibility to set a good example for your kids – and this includes safe driving. Your kids will do as you do, not as you say.
Plus, you can be fined if an officer catches you texting, and if you’re ever in an accident and were texting, you will be liable for damages. Do yourself and everyone else on the road a favor and keep your eyes on the road. Spread the word: Share this article and compelling anti-texting PSAs on social media and with your kids. And for more interesting posts, visit our blog. If you have been in a car accident that was not your fault, contact the attorneys at Cordisco & Saile LLC.
