Texting While Driving Increases Danger 23 Fold
Don't text and drive.
Findings released earlier this week by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) had news reports placing text messaging activities as increasing the likelihood of a vehicular accident by more than 23 times.
Strangely, the figures released by the VTTI only had text messaging while operating a truck, but not a car. Regardless, the VTTI recommends that texting should be banned in moving vehicles for all drivers. The institute also suggests that all cell phone use should be banned for newly licensed teen drivers as it finds that teens tend to engage in cell phone tasks much more frequently, and in much more risky situations, than adults.
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Thanks for the tip, DUH!!! Some people are so stupid on the road... Where the hell did they get their licences, Gran Tourismo? And even then, You can't text and play that game at the same time...
DUH!
i could have told you that without any studies...
Is that with or without a qwerty pad? I bet a non-qwerty phone like mine would be even worse, fighting with that evil T9 recognition.
lol, yahh kinda a no-brainer there...
BUT, thats why we have bluetooth
i txt and drive. bad habit
Ill admit I used was one of these idiots at one point. I first started texting and didn't even think about it while driving. Stopped the first time I looked up and found myself half way off the side of the road.
Wierd thing is i have always refused to talk on the phone while driving. hehehe
OR people could turn of the fucking phone while driving. Believe it or not, the world won't end if your BFF can't reach you the next 15 minutes.
Texting while driving should be a mistermeaner. I'm not even joking. I'd put it up there with DUI's. If you have that much blantant regard for others safety, let alone your own, you have no business behind the wheel.
So why is there only text messaging for heavy vehicle/truck?
People who text while driving deserve to drive into trees
Man think of the trees
I heard that texting while walking is dangerous too.
I heard that texting while walking is dangerous too.
oh yea; walked into a man hole lol !
Here is the UK its already illegal to even HOLD a phone while driving. Never mind call someone, or god forbid TEXT someone!
So it only increases risk if you are driving a heavy vehicle! Cool! I drive a 4-wheel car! I can text message all I want!
I think today is slow news day.
Not watching the road while driving generally increase your chance of hitting something by a good margin.
What is not said during the report on VTTI's findings:
"These numbers are useless since the danger factor is situational"
What I mean by that is a phonecall/text in an area without any traffic might score a 1.5 but a phonecall/text in a city might score a 25.0. If they averaged more city drivers in then country drivers it will raise the number substantially.
Do I call while driving? speakerphone only. Do I text? Only if it is important and there is no traffic on the roads. Do I reach for objects? All of the time, but again it is completely situational. Maintain (propper) following distances and use good judgement.
Also: there is no way that cell phone use could be banned while in cars. This would be just as huge as trying to stop all the internet pirates. We see how well that works. Also keep in mind Speakerphone, Handsfree, Voice dialing, and systems built into many new cars.
We would all be better off having the safety issues discussed in drivers education classes & on drivers permit/license tests. What people need to learn is when, where, and how much they can be distracted without major risk. Trust me, distractions happen. It's better to educate about the topic then to enact a ban which would have little effect.
I wish my state would hurry up and pass a low to ban texting while driving.
*Law
I actually blocked texts from my phone. @ 20 cents each they were really starting to add up. If someone really loves me they'll call.
Anyone know how the risk factor of driving at the legal limit of blood alcohol level compares to the risk factors above? Could be an interesting comparison.
I wish my state would hurry up and pass a low to ban texting while driving.
Here in province of Quebec, a law has passed a couple of months ago, and it's now illegal to even have a cell phone in our hands while driving.
Of course, it's up to the policemen to prove that... But I guess they coulf prove that an important accident occured because some jackass was using a cell phone while driving. Then the car insurance won't pay
*LawI actually blocked texts from my phone. @ 20 cents each they were really starting to add up. If someone really loves me they'll call.
AT&T unlimited texting
Anyone know how the risk factor of driving at the legal limit of blood alcohol level compares to the risk factors above? Could be an interesting comparison.
There was a whole study that said your reaction time was 30-40% slower if just above the legal limit of BAC. Or, amazingly, 70% slower while texting sober.
They also did a test of those under the influence of marijuana and they were only 20% slower than normal. Of course there was no measurement on how doped up they were.
There was a whole study that said your reaction time was 30-40% slower if just above the legal limit of BAC. Or, amazingly, 70% slower while texting sober.They also did a test of those under the influence of marijuana and they were only 20% slower than normal. Of course there was no measurement on how doped up they were.
some sources?
Anyone notice that the X rate for accidents while TALKING is actually very low.
Hehe, I had to register to reply to this one.
Cell phone usage while driving is actually already banned in Norway(Hands-free allowed). It doesn't stop people (far from it) But it has indeed reduced the usage a bit. Worth voting for, put it that way.
I wish my state would hurry up and pass a low to ban texting while driving.
Ya...not a well thought out comment.. this is a serious issue, i see it every day driving home. People get distracted on the phone and ive been in so many 'near misses' with the other guy on his phone, i think we need strict laws and enforcement. (except emergencies)
so that's the kind of crap we pay our universities for? STUPID!
kaiser_25's point is valid. I've seen all kinds of trouble on the road when drivers aren't paying attention. Also keep in mind that not all drivers are that way.
If they ban cellphone use in cars then i'm sure they should ban reading, changing clothes, make-up applying, eating a bowl of cereal, road-head, turning around to scold the kids, yawning, and sneezing while driving. Also, what is up with the people driving and holding their pet dog in the crook of their arm?
Texting while driving is already illegal in Virginia...this isn't news