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.
