The Dangers of Texting and Driving
Most people are good, responsible drivers who never take unnecessary risks. However, even the best drivers can make mistakes and texting while driving is definitely one of those. Even though you may understand that texting and driving is dangerous, the statistics may shock you.
- Sending or reading a text while driving makes you 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash then normal driving. Simply dialing, talking on, or listening to a phone while driving only makes you as much as three times as likely to be involved in the crash
- 23 percent of all automobile collisions in 2011 (about 1.3 million crashes) involved cell phones in some way.
- 31 percent of drivers between the ages of 18 and 64 report that they’ve sent text messages or e-mails with their phones while driving at least once in the last 30 days.
- The average person spends a minimum of 5 seconds looking only at his or her cell phone when sending or receiving a text. If your car is traveling 55 miles per hour during that time, you travel the length of a football field. That is 100 yards without ever looking at the road.
- Using a phone to text while driving has been found to be at least as dangerous as having a blood alcohol content two times above the legal limit.
- Teenagers who send or receive text messages while driving spend about 10% of their time on the road traveling outside of identified traffic lanes.
- 77% of teenagers say they are confident they can safely drive a car while texting.
Don’t Do It
Texting and driving do not mix. You are not capable of driving safely and using your cell phone at the same time, no matter how confident you are in your abilities. Stay safe, be smart, and when you’re driving: put the phone down.
If you find yourself in an accident situation and think you may need legal advice, contact an experienced Auto Accident attorney.
Ledbetter & Titsworth is proud to serve clients across the NC Triangle, including those in Cary, Apex, Morrisville, Holly Springs, Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and beyond. Contact us at 919-297-2372.
