Information on texting and driving facts from the DOT indicates cell phones – texting or talking
- were responsible for 1.6 million accidents a year, which resulted in half a million injuries and deaths.
- 330,000 injuries per year – Harvard Center for Risk Analysis Study
- 11 teen deaths EVERY DAY – Ins. Institute for Hwy Safety Fatality Facts
- Nearly 25% of ALL car accidents
Per CDC website, 69% of drivers in the United States ages 18-64 reported that they had talked on their cell phone while driving within the 30 days before they were surveyed. In Europe, this percentage ranged from 21% in the United Kingdom to 59% in Portugal.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 11% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted. For drivers 15-19 years old involved in fatal crashes, 21 percent of the distracted drivers were distracted by the use of cell phones
Did You Know?
Engaging in visual-manual subtasks (such as reaching for a phone, dialing and texting) associated with the use of hand-held phones and other portable devices increased the risk of getting into a crash by three times. (NHTSA)
Sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent-at 55 mph-of driving the length of an entire football field, blind.
Texting and driving is as bad or worse than drinking and driving
For more texting and driving statistics see the Driving while Intexticated infographic below
Stop before it gets worse
Solutions & What is Being Done
- States have or are passing laws that envolve distracted driving using cell phones. For current laws, see state map on NHTSA site
- New Jersey and several other states have texting and driving as a primary offense with steep fines
- On October 27, 2010, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration enacted a ban that prohibits commercial vehicle drivers from texting while driving.
- New technologies are being developed and hitting the market
a. Safe Driving Systems KEY2SAFEDRIVING
- technology that will not allow texting while driving
- easily installed within your vehicle, no tools required
- reroutes calls directly to voice mail and sends automated text message responses saying that the driver will respond when they have safely reached their destination
b. Five Apps that Help Prevent Texting While Driving
internet-safety.yoursphere.com/five-apps-that-help-prevent-texting-while-driving/
c. Cars To Disable Texting While Driving
businessinsider.com/cars-to-end-texting-while-driving-2013-6
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. Dashboard Mounted Windshield Projector displays projects driving information directly onto a vehicle’s windshield.
