Texting While Driving: As Dangerous as Drunk Driving

Everyone knows about the dangers of drinking and driving. People are killed frequently by drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

There are severe penalties for Driving While Under the Influence (DUI), and insurance rates for those convicted go sky high. Many organizations, such as Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, devote their time to pushing for severe penalties for these violators.

But, most people aren’t aware that texting or talking on the phone, called distracted driving, is as deadly as drunk driving.

Drivers who use their cell phone to talk or text are tempting fate. Cellphone use shifts the driver’s attention away from the road. The National Highway Safety Administration has found that approximately 28% of all accidents are caused by drivers texting or talking on their cell phones.

Distracted driving is dangerous, claiming 2,841 lives in 2018 alone. Among those killed: 1,730 drivers, 605 passengers, 400 pedestrians and 77 bicyclists . Fatal crashes involving teenagers increase by 15% during the summer months.

If you are texting while driving, you are 23 times more likely to get in an accident than an undistracted driver. This statistic falls at about the same rate as if you were driving under the influence of alcohol.

Texting while driving impairs your response time in several ways. Each time you text, you aren’t aware of your surroundings for approximately five seconds. That’s the same as closing your eyes and driving over 400 feet at 55 miles per hour.

Next time you’re driving, please put your phone away. The life you save may be your own.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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