Texting while driving increases crash risk by 23 times

Most dangerous distraction

Steve Hawley, Jul 27, 09.

Texting is by far the most dangerous distraction to drivers, according to the New York Times, increasing the likelihood of a crash by 23 times. The study, created by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, followed long-distance truck drivers over a period of 18 months.

The article notes, “In the moments before a crash or near crash, drivers typically spent nearly five seconds looking at their devices — enough time at typical highway speeds to cover more than the length of a football field.”

It continues:

Even though trucks take longer to stop and are less maneuverable than cars, the findings generally applied to all drivers, who tend to exhibit the same behaviors as the more than 100 truckers studied, the researchers said. Truckers, they said, do not appear to text more or less than typical car drivers, but they said the study did not compare use patterns that way.

A similar study at the University of Utah used a sophisticated simulator and concluded that college drivers were eight times more likely to be in an accident while texting and also found a five second attention lapse. David Strayer, one of the Utah researchers, suggests the difference could be explained because trucks take more time to stop or because college students may be better at multitasking. Others believe it has to do with the difference between simulations, which can create and recreate scenarios, and real-world driving situations. Regardless, said Strayer, “You’re off the charts in both cases. It’s crazy to be doing it.”

Tom Dingus, director of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, agreed, saying, “You should never do this. It should be illegal.” Currently, 14 states ban texting while driving, but officials in some other states have fought back against such rules.

Other recent research indicates that talking on a cell phone increases the risk of an accident fourfold - the equivalent of driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08.

(Photo credit: poka0059)