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New study says texting while driving on the rise

Posted: December 25, 2011

Common sense to be something in real short supply these days as one new study out shows that more people are texting while they are driving despite concerted efforts from law enforcement and other organizations to show how dangerous this practice is.

According to new data from the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the number of people ‘caught’ texting while driving has jumped from 0.6% in 2009 to 0.9% in 2010. This increase has been reflected in the number of accidents related to texting while driving which came in at around the 3,000 mark.

The NHTSA says that they expect to see an increase of 2,300% in the number of accidents due to texting while driving which is why they have led the call for the ban of all texting while driving.

“Using a cell phone while driving is the equivalent of having a blood alcohol concentration level of .08%, the legal limit in most states,” the NHTSA said in a statement. “Using a cell phone can reduce the brain activity associated with driving by 37%.”

via TechnoBuffalo

It should also be noted that in July a Governors Highway Association study found that up to 25% of car crashes in the US is associated with drivers being distracted by some sort of gadget.

Personally I think that anyone caught texting while driving should have their license taken away from them for a number of years equal to the number of words in the last text they sent or read while driving. Texting is the new DUI and can kill just as easily.

image courtesy of TechnoBuffalo

Category: Technology
Tags : , , ,
Posted: December 25, 2011
Steven Hodson

By Steven Hodson









Comments


One Archived Response to “ New study says texting while driving on the rise ”

  1. Erik Wood
    Dec 26, 2011

    I think we live in a culture where business people need to 'hit the ball over the net'. Teens consider it rude not to reply immediately to texts. Home schedules would grind to a halt without immediate communication. We are conditioned to pursue this level of efficiency but we are all supposed cease this behavior once we sit in our respective 5,000 pound pieces of steel and glass. Creating a sustainably safer driver may start with public awareness via legislation but legislation alone cannot win this battle.

    I read that more than 3/4 of teens text daily – many text more 4000 times a month. New college students no longer have email addresses! They use texting and Facebook – even with their professors. Tweens (ages 9 -12) send texts to each other from their bikes. This text and drive issue is in its infancy and I think we need to do more than legislate.

    I decided to do something about distracted driving after my three year old daughter was nearly run down right in front of me by a texting driver. Instead of a shackle that locks down phones and alienates the user (especially teens) I built a tool called OTTER that is a simple GPS based texting auto reply app for smartphones. It also silences call ringtones while driving unless you have a bluetooth enabled. I think if we can empower the individual then change will come to our highways now and not just our laws.

    Erik Wood, owner.
    OTTER LLC
    OTTER app