According to research, one of the most dangerous things you can do while driving is to send or read text messages. But despite the amount of news coverage on texting related car accidents, many drivers continue to text and drive. Recent statistics indicate that this problem has yet to improve.
In 2011, there were 1.3 million automobile accidents. Twenty-three percent of those accidents were attributed to the use of cell phones. The reason for this alarming statistic is no surprise. While driving at a speed of 55mph, a driver will travel the length of a football field in just 5 seconds. That’s about how long it takes to send or read a short text message.
With all this time spent not paying attention to the road, it’s no wonder why using you cell phone while driving makes you 23 times more likely to be involved in a car crash. Simply reaching for your mobile device makes you 1.4 times more likely to have an accident. But this threat seems to be undermined considering that 77% of young adults believe that it is possible to safely text and drive.
Texting isn’t the only activity competing for drivers’ attention while driving. Twenty percent of drivers have admitted that they surf the internet while they drive. Measures are being taken to lower the number of distracted drivers. Many states are putting laws in place that prohibit using mobile devices while driving. But whether or not these laws will be effective is debatable.