Recent Study says that Texting while Driving Increases risk of Crashing by larger margin
A recent study that videotaped truck drivers for 18 months found that the risk of texting while driving “sharply exceeds previous estimates based on laboratory research – and far surpasses the dangers of other driving distractions” (New York Times, Richtel, 7/27).
The new study found “that when drivers texted, their collision risk was 23 times greater than when not texting.” The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute compiled the data and also studied the amount of time drivers took their eyes off the road to send or receive texts. Before a crash or near crash, “drivers spent nearly five seconds looking at their devices – enough time at typical highway speeds to cover more than the length of a football field.”
For the purpose of comparison, several field and laboratory studies found that drivers who are talking on their cell phones are four times more likely to cause a crash than other drivers not talking on their cell phones. Many studies have confirmed the notion that texting while driving is the riskiest among many causes of distracted driving.
As a Chicago personal injury lawyer and a parent, I urge everyone to speak with his or her children and loved ones about texting while driving, as the 16 to 24 year old range was over twice as likely to do so than drivers in older age groups. However, older drivers are also guilty of texting behind the wheel, so all drivers should be aware of the severity of the data compiled on texting while driving.
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