New Study Shows Dangers of Texting and Driving

[Gawdzilla Sama]

New Study Shows Dangers of Texting and Driving

Tuesday, Jul 28, 2009 @06:17am CST

You may want to think twice before you text behind the wheel.
For the first time, researchers have conducted a study of drivers texting inside their vehicles and what they found... Is alarming.

Texting while driving is even more dangerous than previously thought. "People like, dit dit dit dit and not paying attention to the highway and they could hit something and you could get hit or I could get hit," complains truck driver Henry Calace.

In a new study due out today, researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found truck drivers who text were 23 times more likely to get into a crash or near-crash.

Right before an accident, drivers took their eyes off the road for nearly five seconds. At 55 mph that's plenty of time to cover more than the length of a football field. Researchers say their findings should be applied to all drivers.

"I don't believe anyone driving should be texting, whether it's car, motorcycle, or trucks," says Curtis Mason, who drives a truck for a living.

Fourteen states currently ban texting while driving including Washington, DC. The habit is still a relatively new phenomenon so there haven't been many studies looking at the real effects.

But a string of recent transit crashes has shown just how hazardous texting can be. The driver of a train in Massachusetts told authorities he was texting his girlfriend moments before his rear-end collision. The crash sent more than 60 people to the hospital.

In California, 25 people were killed last fall in a commuter crash. The driver who also died was texting shortly before the accident.

But the dangers aren't just associated with texting. While less risky, today's study also shows dialing or talking on a cell phone can increase your chances of crashing.

The advice from researchers - ditch the distractions and keep your eyes on the road.

(read more about the study results HERE)

[klr]

It's illegal here anyway.

[JimC]

I wish that texting drivers only removed themselves from the gene pool, rather than innocent bystanders...

[Mallardz]

Dangers yet to be discovered;

Driving and eating.
Driving and sneezing.
Driving and looking to the side.
Driving and breathing.
Driving and being alive. (or dead actually)

Let's just accept driving is always going to be dangerous so they should stop trying to make it as safe as base jumping.
I think it's illegal here too. Not that the police come out till 11pm and go home at 5am. I could work them hours

[Feck]

They had to do a study ? I hope nobody got paid any money to come up with such an earth shattering conclusion ?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Dangers yet to be discovered;

Driving and eating.
Driving and sneezing.
Driving and looking to the side.
Driving and breathing.
Driving and being alive. (or dead actually)

Let's just accept driving is always going to be dangerous so they should stop trying to make it as safe as base jumping.
I think it's illegal here too. Not that the police come out till 11pm and go home at 5am. I could work them hours

Liam, I paid for many funerals when I was a claims handler. It was not the high point of my job.

Driving and eating. Dangerous.
Driving and sneezing. Dangerous.
Driving and looking to the side. Dangerous.
Driving and breathing. Depends on what you're inhaling.
Driving and being alive. (or dead actually) Very dangerous. (Coronary behind the wheel = accident.)

When you pay for the funerals for a family of five, all squashed between two semis, you'll have a better feel for this.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

They had to do a study ? I hope nobody got paid any money to come up with such an earth shattering conclusion ?

The point of the study was to find out just how dangerous it is. Present the information to law makers so they can pass laws that empower people to stop it.

Honestly, if you ask people if they'd mount a computer on their dash and post to Facebook while driving, most would say, "sounds cool, gimme some of that shit."

[Feck]

They had to do a study ? I hope nobody got paid any money to come up with such an earth shattering conclusion ?

The point of the study was to find out just how dangerous it is. Present the information to law makers so they can pass laws that empower people to stop it.

Honestly, if you ask people if they'd mount a computer on their dash and post to Facebook while driving, most would say, "sounds cool, gimme some of that shit."

You can get a manslaughter charge in the Uk for that sort of shit .

[Gawdzilla Sama]

They had to do a study ? I hope nobody got paid any money to come up with such an earth shattering conclusion ?

The point of the study was to find out just how dangerous it is. Present the information to law makers so they can pass laws that empower people to stop it.

Honestly, if you ask people if they'd mount a computer on their dash and post to Facebook while driving, most would say, "sounds cool, gimme some of that shit."

You can get a manslaughter charge in the Uk for that sort of shit .

Merkins loves them some cars.

[Thinking Aloud]

Driving and eating.

Already illegal here, I think, as is driving and consuming non-alcoholic drink. If you eat a chocolate bar while driving, you get pulled over and told off/fined/given points for "driving without due care and attention". :-|

[Bella Fortuna]

Driving and eating.

Already illegal here, I think, as is driving and consuming non-alcoholic drink. If you eat a chocolate bar while driving, you get pulled over and told off/fined/given points for "driving without due care and attention". :-|

What if the passenger is... erm.... eating something?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Driving and eating.

Already illegal here, I think, as is driving and consuming non-alcoholic drink. If you eat a chocolate bar while driving, you get pulled over and told off/fined/given points for "driving without due care and attention". :-|

What if the passenger is... erm.... eating something?

Then the driver will die happy.

[ScholasticSpastic]

My passengers tend to think I'm unreasonable as I will not allow meals, excessive noise or other distractions while I drive and I refuse to answer the phone while driving. They're welcome.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Driving and eating.

Already illegal here, I think, as is driving and consuming non-alcoholic drink. If you eat a chocolate bar while driving, you get pulled over and told off/fined/given points for "driving without due care and attention". :-|

What if the passenger is... erm.... eating something?

Thinner!!

[Bella Fortuna]

Driving and eating.

Already illegal here, I think, as is driving and consuming non-alcoholic drink. If you eat a chocolate bar while driving, you get pulled over and told off/fined/given points for "driving without due care and attention". :-|

What if the passenger is... erm.... eating something?

Thinner!!

What, has it been proven to show weight loss, too?