Texting and driving is responsible for an estimated 3,000 teenage deaths each year, and another 300,000 injuries. According to the Cohen Children’sMedicalCenter, the prevalence of texting and driving has skyrocketed in recent years, and it continues to grow. In fact, more young people die from texting and driving than drinking and driving now, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In Indiana, texting while driving is against the law, but the problem persists. Here are some sobering facts:
- A quarter of teenagers respond to a text message every time they drive. (University of Michigan, Transportation Research Institute)
- Sending a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average 4.6 seconds. That’s the equivalent of driving 55 mph for the length of a football field…blind. (U.S.Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)
Texting while driving puts everyone on the road at risk as it becomes a cognitive, visual, and manual distraction to drivers. Studies show that texting while operating a vehicle dangerously increases reaction time, thus increasing the risk of crashing. It also reduces focus and attentiveness to the road and one’s surroundings.
Keep Indiana roads safe. Don’t text and drive. To learn more about safe driving practices, please visit http://www.distraction.gov/.
We’ve talked about the dangers of distracted driving in the past, but the importance of alert, attentive driving cannot be stressed enough. If you have been injured in a car accident because of another’s distracted driving, please contact us today for a free initial consultation.
