Texting While Driving Is Dangerous
A recent study found that texting while driving is among the most dangerous things a driver can do.
The study monitored truck drivers via in-cab video cameras to find that the risk of accident increases 23 times when sending or reading a text message. On average, drivers were taking their eyes off the road for an estimated 4.6 seconds to read or send messages, equivalent to the amount of time it would take an 18-wheeler at normal highway speeds to travel the length of a football field.
Currently, only 14 of the 50 U.S. states have a ban on texting while driving. Although in Maine drivers under the age of 18 are not allowed to use a cell phone while operating a vehicle, our state is not among those that impose a ban on texting. In June of 2009, however, Governor Baldacci signed a law that states there will be a fine imposed to drivers who commit traffic violations or are involved in a reportable accident when operating a vehicle while distracted. The new law goes into effect in September. The new study should continue to sway legislature and cell phone users alike.
The issue of texting while driving has recently come to national prominence. In May, more than 50 people were injured when a trolley car in Boston crashed while its driver was texting with his girlfriend. Last September, a commuter train in Los Angles crashed into a freight train seconds after the driver had received a text message and missed a red light. 25 passengers died in the accident, with over 130 more injured.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute revealed that 80 percent of accidents and 65 percent of near-accidents involve some form of driver distraction occurring within three seconds of the crash. Distractions that lead to vehicle crashes include:
- Cell phone use.
- Reaching for moving objects inside the vehicle.
- Looking at an object or event outside of the vehicle.
- Reading while driving.
- Applying makeup.
More and more, insurance companies are now researching driver phone usage before accidents to help determine liability. In 2006, more than 158 billion text messages were sent in the U.S. with over a trillion sent worldwide. Those numbers are expected to continue to increase exponentially.
At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein we see firsthand the results of tragic motor vehicle accidents. By eliminating distractions while on the road, including text messaging, your odds of having a safe commute increase considerably. It is a proven fact that we cannot urge enough.
So the next time you’re on the road and get a message from a friend, wait to you get off the road to respond. By doing so both you and your fellow commuters will thank you.
For more information on Maine’s driving laws, please visit: http://www.maine.gov/portal/travel/transportation/highways.html
