How Dangerous Is Texting While Driving?

Facts you should know about texting and driving

Texting while driving is more dangerous than drunk driving. That may seem hard to believe if you don’t understand the underlying factors. There are good reasons while 48 states and the U.S. territories have banned texting and driving for all drivers. (Only Montana and Missouri have not.)

How do the statistics of texting and driving compare with drunk driving? According to research:

«Texting while driving is six times more likely to cause a car accident than drunk driving.» (thezebra.com)

Texting distracts drivers on three levels

While a drunk driver is cognitively impaired, texting distracts drivers in three ways:

• As a driver, you take at least one hand off the wheel to text. You need one hand to hold the phone and a finger to text. Even when tapping the button for audio texting, this is true.
• When you look at a text messaging box, your eyes come off of the road. This is true whether reading or writing a text.
• While writing or reading a message, you are not focusing on the road or driving. Instead, you’ve shifted your attention to texting.

Despite the factors above, a common justification is that texting only takes a few seconds. Surely a second or two would not matter, would it? As a matter of fact, it would. According to NHTSA (National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration), sending or reading a text takes the driver’s eyes off the road for five seconds. If you are driving at 55 mph, it is tantamount to traveling the length of a football field with your eyes closed.

Have you been injured in a car accident by a distracted driver?

If the other driver was texting while driving, the law is on your side. The San Antonio based Law Office of Michael R. De La Paz offers a free consultation to discuss your accident. We can advise whether you should pursue a case to recover compensation for damages. We’ve handled cases for clients all over the state, from Fort Worth to Laredo.