Drivers Distracted By Texting And Talking On Cell Phones

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Cell phones remain a major distraction for drivers, with texting potentially being the most dangerous distraction of them all.

The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates at least 28 percent of all traffic crashes — or at least 1.6 million crashes each year — are caused by drivers using cell phones (either talking or texting).

Currently, texting while driving is banned in 25 states plus Washington D.C. and Guam. Also, it is illegal for drivers to use cell phones in a school zone when signs are posted that it is a no cell phone zone.

According to a study conducted by the Transport Research Laboratory, motorists who use their cell phone to send text messages while driving dramatically increase the likelihood of a crash.

The study suggested that reaction times deteriorated by 35 percent. In addition, drivers who sent or read text messages were more prone to drift out of their lane than drivers not reading or sending text messages.

During the Transport Research Laboratory study, text messages on average took 63 seconds to compose and send while driving, compared to 22 seconds to compose and send when not driving.

Another study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) indicated that of all cell phone related tasks — including talking, dialing, or reaching for the phone — texting while driving is the most dangerous. The study concluded the following:

For light vehicles or cars:

• Dialing a cell phone made the risk of a crash or near-crash event 2.8 times as high as non-distracted driving.
  
  
• Talking or listening to a cell phone made the risk of a crash or near-crash event 1.3 times as high as non-distracted driving.
  
  
• Reaching for an object such as an electronic device made the risk of a crash or near-crash event 1.4 times as high as non-distracted driving.
  
  

For heavy vehicles or trucks:

• Dialing a cell phone made the risk of a crash or near-crash event 5.9 times as high as non-distracted driving.
  
  
• Talking or listening to a cell phone made the risk of a crash or near-crash event 1.0 times as high as non-distracted driving.
  
  
• Use of, or reach for, an electronic device made the risk of a crash or near-crash event 6.7 times as high as non-distracted driving.
  
  
• Text messaging made the risk of a crash or near-crash event 23.2 times as high as non-distracted driving.
  
  

For information on cell phone and text messaging laws in your state, visit http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html.

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