People who text while driving are far more likely to be involved in a car accident than those who don't. Distracted drivers account for more accidents on our roads and freeways than someone driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The most recent report by AAA states that 46% of teens surveyed text while they drive. But it's actually adults that are the worst in committing this dirty deed. In a recent survey conducted by AT&T, 49% of American adult drivers admitted they text while driving. That's a startling statistic compared to only 43% of teens who admitted they too text, email, and check social networks while driving.
Driving while texting increases the chance of causing an accident by 26 times due to slow reaction times and not paying attention to traffic conditions, road signs and traffic lights. The repercussions of driving and texting can lead to increased chances of getting into an auto accident and even death. Researchers from Virginia Tech Transportation Institute reported that texting while driving creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted.
Texting While Driving is a Known Safety Hazard
Any action that draws attention away from the safe operation of a motor vehicle is a form of "distracted driving." This includes texting or talking on a cell phone, as well as adjusting devices such as radios and GPS units, watching videos, reading, eating, combing hair or talking to passengers. But more and more research indicates that texting while driving creates an especially deadly risk to drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
Sending or receiving a text message takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) study states. In a car going 55 mph, this is the same as driving the length of an entire football field blindfolded. Texting while driving creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted, the DOT says.
AT&T started a campaign about three years ago called "It Can Wait" that encourages all drivers to resist the urge to text while driving. To date, 1.3 million people joined the campaign by pledging to not text and drive. The goal of their campaign is to raise the awareness of the dangers of texting while driving and to hopefully change driving behaviors nationwide.
As a part of this campaign, AT&T conducted a recent survey of 1,011 adult drivers that has produced some startling figures that reveal just how widespread the issue of distracted drivingis and indicates that adults are amongst the biggest offenders. While 98 percent of the adult participants confessed that they know texting or using their handheld device is an unsafe driving behavior, 49 percent of them admitted that they text while driving. In comparison, only 43 percent of the teenage drivers surveyed admitted to doing the same. When the adults were questioned about whether they were engaging in the behavior of texting while driving three years ago, a whopping 60 percent said they were not texting while driving at that time. This is quite concerning as it shows just how prevalent this dangerous behavior has become in such a small amount of time.
Contact Our Texting-While-Driving Accident Lawyers Today
If you are a victim of an auto accident involving a distracted driver who texted while driving, the attorneys at J. Clay Benson, Attorney at Law, can help discuss your case, file a personal injury claim, and assist you in receiving the compensation you deserve. Our attorneys are experienced in all aspects of auto accidents and will pursue all types of compensation including medical bills, pain and suffering from the injury, loss of wages, and possible punitive damages. Schedule a consultation today by contacting us today at (334) 356-1925 or toll free at (855) 94J-CLAY, or by using our online contact form.
Driving while texting increases the chance of causing an accident by 26 times due to slow reaction times and not paying attention to traffic conditions, road signs and traffic lights. The repercussions of driving and texting can lead to increased chances of getting into an auto accident and even death. Researchers from Virginia Tech Transportation Institute reported that texting while driving creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted.
Texting While Driving is a Known Safety Hazard
Any action that draws attention away from the safe operation of a motor vehicle is a form of "distracted driving." This includes texting or talking on a cell phone, as well as adjusting devices such as radios and GPS units, watching videos, reading, eating, combing hair or talking to passengers. But more and more research indicates that texting while driving creates an especially deadly risk to drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
Sending or receiving a text message takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) study states. In a car going 55 mph, this is the same as driving the length of an entire football field blindfolded. Texting while driving creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted, the DOT says.
AT&T started a campaign about three years ago called "It Can Wait" that encourages all drivers to resist the urge to text while driving. To date, 1.3 million people joined the campaign by pledging to not text and drive. The goal of their campaign is to raise the awareness of the dangers of texting while driving and to hopefully change driving behaviors nationwide.
As a part of this campaign, AT&T conducted a recent survey of 1,011 adult drivers that has produced some startling figures that reveal just how widespread the issue of distracted drivingis and indicates that adults are amongst the biggest offenders. While 98 percent of the adult participants confessed that they know texting or using their handheld device is an unsafe driving behavior, 49 percent of them admitted that they text while driving. In comparison, only 43 percent of the teenage drivers surveyed admitted to doing the same. When the adults were questioned about whether they were engaging in the behavior of texting while driving three years ago, a whopping 60 percent said they were not texting while driving at that time. This is quite concerning as it shows just how prevalent this dangerous behavior has become in such a small amount of time.
Contact Our Texting-While-Driving Accident Lawyers Today
If you are a victim of an auto accident involving a distracted driver who texted while driving, the attorneys at J. Clay Benson, Attorney at Law, can help discuss your case, file a personal injury claim, and assist you in receiving the compensation you deserve. Our attorneys are experienced in all aspects of auto accidents and will pursue all types of compensation including medical bills, pain and suffering from the injury, loss of wages, and possible punitive damages. Schedule a consultation today by contacting us today at (334) 356-1925 or toll free at (855) 94J-CLAY, or by using our online contact form.