AfterDawn: News

Texting and driving becoming an epidemic

According to the latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, texting while driving keeps increasing, most notably among younger drivers.

50 percent of American drivers between 21-24 have admitted to emailing or texting while driving, even though it is illegal in 35 states.



The study says in 2010 there were 3092 deaths caused by driver distractions that included texting and eating meals.

Additionally, the agency stakes out intersections and manually tallies how many distracted drivers they see, and that number jumped to 1 in every 100 in 2010.

Overall, the study of 6000, showed that 20 percent of those who responded would answer a phone call or would send a text while driving.

55 percent said distracted driving made no difference to their driving, but 90 percent said when they were passengers they felt unsafe if the driver was distracted.

Despite doing so themselves, most of those surveyed were all for banning handheld electronics in the car or steep fines above $100.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 10 Dec 2011 22:18

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• 11 comments

• core2kid

  Nothing can fix this unfortunately. I've texted in the car though I've memorized where my keys are so I still look at the road. Regardless, it is a distraction.
  Cops can't pull people over. If I see a copy, I'm gonna put my phone down. More than texting though, I call people on speaker in the car.

  11.12.2011 01:33 #1

• xboxdvl2

  think 99.99% of people who text while driving claim they have memorized the keys.in australia black or asian drivers get pulled over by cops alot, half the time its for no reason aswell,white people do get pulled over aswell but theres usually a reason for it.using a mobile phone here (while driving) is $350 fine and loss of 3demerit points.I dont even touch my phone when im driving,half the time if it does ring when im driving the musics thats loud i dont even notice.
  

  R.I.P. mr 1990 ford falcon.got myself a 1993 toyota corolla seems to run good.computers still going good.

  11.12.2011 03:04 #2

• Jeffrey_P

  I can tell when people are texting or on the cell. They either straddle the center divide, are on the far right or are tardy taking off on a green light. Although it is legal here in AZ to use a phone it is a very dangerous habit. Are people that desperate they have to risk a catastrophe?
  
  Most people cannot concentrate on more than one thing at a time.
  
  Jeff

  11.12.2011 04:36 #3

• KillerBug

  I really hate surveys that are intentionally one-sided to the point that they don't offer any actual data but can make it appear that there is a serious problem if you hit the bullet points quickly without paying attention.
  
  Quote:50 percent of American drivers between 21-24 have admitted to emailing or texting while driving, even though it is illegal in 35 states.
  I wonder what their definition of "while driving" was...I email from the car all the time...but only at stop lights. Here in Tampa it takes about 20 minutes to go 5 miles in 45mph zones with no traffic because of all the f**king lights that are timed to stop you at each and every single one of them; you have to do something to keep from snapping and going on a rampage.
  
  Quote:Overall, the study of 6000, showed that 20 percent of those who responded would answer a phone call or would send a text while driving. That really doesn't tell us anything...sending a text is a lot different than clicking the "call answer" button on your bluetooth. Reminds me of the 1950s when congress would ask, "Have you ever been a member of a union or of the communist party?".
  
  Quote:Despite doing so themselves, most of those surveyed were all for banning handheld electronics in the car or steep fines above $100.
  That question never said anything about the driver having the device. If you want to see distracted driving, try taking the handheld away from the little brat in the back seat.
  

  
  

  11.12.2011 07:05 #4

• LordRuss

  Originally posted by KillerBug: If you want to see distracted driving, try taking the handheld away from the little brat in the back seat. I can't get it away from the nut sack of my 17 year old!!! He's so attached to it I think it's a part of his DNA now! He's about to get his drivers license (they do things different here, long story too) & I beat him to death if the car wreck doesn't kill him.
  
  His Pavlovian inability to leave the phone alone when receiving a text would leave you in both jaw dropping awe & hunchback heaving, gasping for breath, meat smacking, "I have nothing left but my nuts" to barf nausea.
  
  As far as some for me, I have some even elderly friends who seem to forget that I won't answer a phone while I'm driving & want to scold me for not answering. I've been trying to use a blue tooth for just such an occasion, but the newer smart phone seems to want to chew up the power with some of these add ons. Tel est la guerre.
  

  http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

  11.12.2011 11:22 #5

• jrp696

  I used to text and drive a lot but I realized how bad it really is. However I tried not to do it when I had passengers. Now I hate seeing people text when I'm the passenger, so much that I tell them to put it down. Its just a stupid and dangerous habit. This is why I Siri is very useful to me. More phone companies should strive to have a voice recognition system as good as Siri.

  11.12.2011 11:51 #6

• xboxdvl2

  the worse thing is the repeated callers when your driving.they ring you dont answer they should get the message but no they ring you 5times in a row while your in heavy traffic with a cop car behind you.then when you get back to them they ask (in an annoyed tone) why didnt you answer.
  

  R.I.P. mr 1990 ford falcon.got myself a 1993 toyota corolla seems to run good.computers still going good.

  11.12.2011 22:57 #7

• TBandit

  Yeah, this is the multitasking generation, I think we get bored easily therefore we tend to use cell phones ie school church driving

  12.12.2011 02:30 #8

• LordRuss

  Originally posted by xboxdvl2: ....they should get the message but no they ring you 5times in a row while your in heavy traffic with a cop car behind you.then when you get back to them they ask (in an annoyed tone) why didnt you answer. I'm usually so profane with most of my 'explanations the first time I don't have to repeat myself. Luckily, I tell people strait out the first time when I give out my number, "If you call & I don't answer, I will call back, just give me some time. But if you jack hammer me? I'll guarantee you I'll never call you back. Got it?"
  
  That's the polite version. Seeing as I'm encroaching on the age of dirt, I'm really crass to people who ask me the "Why didn't you answer" bit. I should right blog on that one alone.
  

  http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

  13.12.2011 00:58 #9

• Vato

  in JAPAN it is. 9/10 people drive and text and there is no cops to be seen.

  20.12.2011 23:37 #10

• KillerBug

  Originally posted by Vato: in JAPAN it is. 9/10 people drive and text and there is no cops to be seen. I Japan 9/10 cars are stopped in traffic at any given time.
  

  
  

  21.12.2011 00:07 #11