Dangers of Texting While Driving

Among the deadliest forms of distracted driving, texting while driving is the most common. The average driver takes their eyes off the road for 5 seconds while sending or reading a text in a car. There’s no doubt that a life-changing accident could happen in this amount of time.

While you may know that texting while driving is dangerous, you may not realize the severity of its consequences. The number of distracted driving accidents in 2018 reached approximately 400,000. Distracted driving is most prevalent among drivers aged 16 to 24. With so many inexperienced drivers using distracting devices on the road, accidents, injuries, and deaths are a real possibility.

In this article, we will provide you with some information on the dangers of texting and driving. If you are involved in an accident our Roseville car accident lawyers can help you. Of course, we are also available in other cities close to Minneapolis.

What Makes Mobile Phones So Risky?

Many drivers believe that they can text while driving because their mobile phones are such an important part of their daily lives. They can’t even wait to return a call or text until they reached their destination. In most cases, humans aren’t designed for multitasking . No one can be good at texting and driving simultaneously, and people lose their lives as a result.

After five seconds of looking at the phone, an average person reads or reacts to a text message. Having driven 55 mph, you could have driven the length of a football field without checking the road. After you’ve checked your phone, the brain needs approximately three seconds to refocus. It is impossible to drive and text at the same time.

The smartphones of today can do a lot more than just making phone calls. In addition to communication, they are used for entertainment, taking photos and navigation. Texting while driving is one of the most deadly forms of reckless driving because the route needs your full concentration.

Different Types of Distracted Driving

How dangerous is texting while driving? Any activity that distracts your attention from the route is considered a potential danger. It’s dangerous because it distracts you from your surroundings. When you are distracted everyone on the roa is at risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control, distracted driving is composed of three types:

Manual: When you take your hand or hands off the steering wheel.

Visual: When your eyes are off the road, you are experiencing a visual distraction.

Cognitive: You are distracted from driving by something else. An impact of this is a slower reaction time to changing environments. A cognitive distraction such as daydreaming is an example.

Distractions of all kinds are involved when it comes to texting while driving. When one hand is off the wheel to peer at a phone, the other is off the wheel also. You’re not paying attention to what’s happening around you if you’re looking at your phone. By allowing content on a device to divert one’s attention, one loses concentration on the task at hand, which should be driving. When you text while driving, you are distracted by your mobile phone, which is dangerous.

Statistics on Texting while Driving: How Dangerous is It?

In 2019, 3,142 people died in motor vehicle accidents related to distracted driving in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In that year, 9% of all deaths were caused by that. Even though 9% may appear to be a minor percentage, consider the following: Nearly 8 people die in auto accidents each day in the United States due to distracted driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

When it comes to texting and driving, how risky is it? The following are more shocking statistics about texting while driving:

In 2018, approximately 9.7% of drivers used devices at any given time throughout the day.
By using texting, one spends 400% more time off the road.
Among those killed in distracted driving accidents, one out of five was not driving a car. Bicyclists, walkers, and others fall into this category.
Distracted driving caused 15% of injury accidents.
95 percent of accidents or near-crashes occur when grabbing the phone or dialing it.

There are many risks associated with texting while driving, but the above are just some. In many cases, accidents, injuries, and even deaths can easily be avoided if people stop texting while driving.

Other Dangers of Texting While Driving

There are many risks associated with texting and driving, including the possibility of death or injury to someone. However, there are others as well. Consider these additional dangers before picking up your phone while driving.

If you receive a ticket for driving while distracted, expect your insurance rates to go up.
As you text while driving, you’re undoubtedly breaking the law. Almost all states make it a crime, so you’ll likely get a ticket.
In the event of an accident, while texting, you could damage your car badly, even if no one is injured. Automobile repair or replacement is not inexpensive.

Tips for Preventing Texting and Driving Accidents

Focusing on driving is the most effective way to avoid distractions while driving. It is your responsibility to stay alert, vigilant, and defensive whenever you are driving. You cannot prevent another driver from being distracted, but you can be alert enough to react if you remain distraction-free.

It is a good idea for parents to model safe driving habits for their children at a young age and to talk to them about it. Talk to your teenagers about staying focused and not being distracted while driving, and make sure they never use a cell phone while driving. Participate in local initiatives and organizations to bring awareness to the dangers of texting while driving.

Thousands of people are injured or killed each year due to distracted driving, and we would prefer this not to be the case. While driving, try to keep yourself and everyone around you from being distracted.

Conclusion

Lastly, you should never text while driving for your safety. We talked about the dangers of texting while driving above in the article. We hope this information is helpful to you and that you do not use your phone while driving out of habit.