Texting while driving shown to be a bad idea. (Photo: Ed Brown)
Texting while driving has been made illegal in many parts of the world and many states within the US, and now data from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) has shown why it should be made illegal everywhere. According to research that combined data from a number of studies, drivers of heavy vehicles and/or trucks that send text messages while driving are 23.2 times more likely to be involved in a crash or “near-crash event” than non-distracted drivers.
That texting while driving is dangerous really shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise considering it involves taking your eyes of the road. The research showed that in crashes or near-crashes, the act of texting actually shifted a driver’s focus away from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. That might not sound like long, but, as the report points out, that’s enough time to travel the length of a football field when travelling at 55 mph.
The VTTI also concluded that the acts of reaching for a mobile phone and dialling increase the chances of being involved in a “safety-critical event”, but the risks were significantly lower than texting. Light vehicle/car drivers showed a 2.8 times higher risk of being involved in such an event when dialling and a 1.4 times higher risk when reaching for a phone or other electronic device.
Meanwhile a study of heavy vehicle/truck drivers revealed they were 5.9 times more likely to be involved in a crash or near-crash when dialling and 6.9 times more likely when reaching for an electronic device. Interestingly the heavy vehicle/truck drivers showed no increased risk when talking on a mobile phone, while drivers of light vehicles/cars showed only a 1.3 times higher risk.
Based on the findings the VTTI recommended that texting should be banned in moving vehicles for all drivers. They also say that “headset” mobile phone use isn’t substantially safer than “hand-held” use since the primary risk associated with both tasks is answering, dialling, and other tasks that divert drivers’ attention from the road. In contrast, “true hands-free” systems, such as voice activated systems, are less risky if they are designed well enough so the driver doesn’t have to take their eyes of the road often or for long periods.
They also predict that if banning of mobile phone use, particularly texting, is not banned it could lead to a “crash epidemic” as the text happy younger generation reaches driving age. Definitely food for thought for legislators, not to mention drivers, in areas where mobile phone use while driving isn’t outlawed.
[VTTI]
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