We’re all familiar with the risks of drinking and driving. But the dangers of texting while driving have also been in the news lately. A study released in the summer warned of the potential for an epidemic of texting-induced crashes and called for legislation everywhere banning the practice. Texting and driving was also the focus of a graphic public service announcement produced in Wales that became a YouTube hit.
How risky is the practice? The study out of Virginia, which had cameras mounted in vehicles for a combined six million miles of driving, found that while they were texting, truckers were almost 24 times as likely to crash or have a near crash incident. The research also noted that teenagers were more likely to use cellphones than adults and in much more risky situations. Teens were four times more likely to get into a crash or near-crash event.
Texting was found to be much more risky than talking on a cellphone because it led to drivers taking their eyes off the road for a much longer period of time – over four seconds at a time. Read SMARTRISK’s article on the research or see the press release on the study.
Citing these risks, a Globe and Mail comment article by John Lorinc on Oct. 5, called on the industry to do more to raise awareness of the risks of texting and driving.
And the Welsh public service announcement – if you haven’t already seen it and if you have the stomach for it – can be found by searching at YouTube.
