Potential Risks of Texting while Driving
Mobile devices are undeniably gaining a lot of popularity, particularly among teens and young adults. Aside from its portability, these high technology gadgets are helpful in giving directions and making life easier among drivers. Unfortunately, mobile phones are also posing a threat to everyone’s life. There has been accidents on the road that took place due to these devices. Texting while driving is becoming a common practice, causing distraction, injury, and even loss of life.
Despite the government’s effort to penalize drivers who are using their phones while driving, such practice is still evident due to the increasing number of reported accidents. With this, it is very important to know the risks of texting while driving in order to inform everyone about the potential outcomes of their actions.
- According to a 2009 study on commercial drivers conducted by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, texting while driving is the riskiest type of distraction. Drivers are 23 times more likely to be in a “safety-critical event” when they use their phones while driving.
- The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that distracted driving constitutes 18% among all injury-causing accidents in 2010.
- Furthermore, it has been found out in the study of Virginia Tech Transportation Institute that teens are four times as likely to be involved in collision or near misses due to mobile phone distraction.
- More than eight people are killed and around 1, 161 individuals in United States are injured every day due to distracted driving.
- At most of the time in America, around 660,000 drivers are using their mobile phones while driving.
- Based on the statistics reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2015, there is an approximate 3,447 individuals killed and 391,000 people injured due to motor vehicle crashes including distracted drivers.
- The National Occupant Protection Use Survey made a report in 2015 that usage of handheld mobile phones is continuously rising among 16 t0 24 year old drivers.
Recently, there has been a number of studies that were conducted to monitor the statistics of texting while driving incidents. Although several awareness programs has been conducted and utilized, the figures are still showing a significant surge of people getting into accidents. Some may be fortunate enough to survive but there are others who were injured and unlucky to live.
In order to control or minimize accidents due to texting while driving, drivers are advised to be vigilant in using these devices. It may be difficult to turn off an important call while driving, but we can avoid the risks of distracted driving through certain measures. Drivers can either stop for a moment to use his or her mobile phone, or he or she can turn it off and focus in driving. Either way, it is always a driver’s choice to use handheld phones while driving. Safety should be a priority at all times because accidents will not only create an impact towards you, but also to other people who are present in the area where it took place.