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A scientific study shouldn’t be needed for something this obvious, but several have been done and the results are conclusive: texting while driving is dangerous. Amid the explosive popularity of texting lies an unfortunate truth: people will risk their lives – and the lives of others – to stay connected to their friends.

Texting, the use of a hand-held device to send or receive text messages, has increased a tenfold over the last three years. This past December cell phone users across the country sent a total of 110 billion text messages. Younger Americans send far more text messages than older ones, and they are also more likely to text while they drive, a double whammy because they are also less skilled drivers.

Research on the dangers of texting and driving

One of the most recent studies examined the texting behavior of long-haul truck drivers. Researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute spent 18 months gathering data from over 100 drivers in long-haul trucks outfitted with video cameras. The cameras measured the amount of time that drivers took their eyes away from the road to send or receive texts.

What researchers found was disturbing: in the moments before a crash or near crash event, drivers took their eyes off the road to text for an average of five seconds. Given the speed that long-haul trucks typically travel on highways, truckers can cover the length of a football field in that amount of time. Five seconds is far too long, researchers argue, for any driver to take their eyes from the road.

Because of the study, researchers believe that texting while driving increases a driver’s risk of causing a collision by 23 times compared to not texting

Similar results were found by a research team at the University of Utah that studied college students who texted and drove for 18 months. This study also showed that texting drivers took their eyes off the road for an average of 5 seconds, and were also far more likely to cause a collision.

Texting and the law

Given the very serious danger that drivers who text behind the wheel pose to other motorists, lawmakers in a number of states have passed and attempted to pass legislation restricting or banning texting while driving.

Virginia recently passed a law banning texting while driving for all drivers, although it is only subject to secondary enforcement (you can’t be pulled over by police for texting while driving, however you can be ticketed if you are pulled over for another reason). Right now there are only 14 states that ban texting while driving, although it is likely more will follow.

Have you been the victim of a dangerous distracted driver? Do you want to talk to a lawyer about what you can do to secure compensation for your injuries? Please contact the Norfolk based law office of Weisberg & Zaleski today and find out how we can get justice for your suffering.

Weisberg & Zaleski, P.C.

112 College Place

Norfolk, VA 23510

Toll Free: (800) 690-0235

Phone: (757) 622-7740

Fax: (757) 533-9223

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Weisberg & Zaleski, P.C.
112 College Place
Norfolk, VA 23510
Phone: (757) 622-7740
Fax: (757) 533-9223
Toll Free: (800) 690-0235
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Texting while driving can result in deadly car crashes

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