Tag Archives: drunk driving

Texting While Driving is Becoming The New Drunk Driving

Teenage driver using cell phone while driving

Is texting while driving becoming more dangerous than drunk driving? According to The National Safety Council, 80% of all accidents involve at least one distraction with 26% of accidents include a cell phone distraction. Check out the infographic made by Camera Source to view the risks of distracted driving and how you can drive safer on the road.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Releases New Distracted Driving Report

Thirty-five states in the US have banned texting while driving—but that doesn’t mean people are putting down their phones. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration asked 6,000 drivers last year about their driving habits, and the vast majority (90%) of respondents said that they would support a rule that banned texting while driving. In spite of this, two in ten drivers admitted to texting or sending emails behind the wheel. Even more concerning is that among younger drivers (aged 20-24), 50% admitted to texting while driving.

It seems most drivers seemed to think that even when they were engaging in distracting behavior, they were still able to drive safely; whether they were texting, putting on make-up or even reading the paper. But over 3,000 people died last year from accidents caused by distracted drivers, and most of those distractions were cell phone related. Ray LaHood, Transportation Secretary, is attempting to pass federal legislation that bans texting while driving and stops senseless deaths. While we can hope that if this legislation passes more people will avoid distractions, safe driving really starts with you.

That is exactly why I started Teens Against Distracted Driving (TADD.) It is up to each of us not only to drive safely, but also to spread awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. There are lots of ways that you can help: you can take our pledge (and get a free bracelet!), you can spread awareness at your school, you can take our survey or you can check out some of these great sites and resources. Texting and driving is an epidemic, but it can be stopped one driver at a time!

 

Texting While Driving Proven To Be More Dangerous Than Drunk Driving | Teens Against Distracted Driving

An experiment that took place on a deserted air strip looked to measure how dangerous texting while driving really is. With the cars traveling at 70 miles an hour, drivers reaction times were measured in different circumstances. Reactions were measured when the drivers unimpaired, when they were drunk, when they were reading an email on their phone and finally, when they were sending a text message.

Check out the results on Straight Talk Law

Teens Against Distracted Driving was founded by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer Jason Epstein who is also the founder of the Seattle law firm Straight Talk Law.