Realities of distracted driving - Drunk doesn't start to cover it

Distracted driving is the newest worry for most drivers on the road. The belief of most is that teen drivers are one of the most distracted drivers, but new studies are showing the opposite. Between texting, phone calls and having the internet in their hands, adults are actually the most distracted drivers on the road. What is the real risk?

Article source: Realities of distracted driving – Drunk doesn’t start to cover it by Car Deal Expert

Who really is the distracted drivers?

A recent poll from the Pew Internet and American Life Project shows that adults usually tend to be probably the most distracted drivers; 47 percent of adults say that they have sent text messages when driving. A full 75 percent of adults use their cell phones when they are driving, while only 52 percent of 16 and 17-year-olds do. More than 40 percent of individuals say they are in a car where someone else’s cell phone use has put them in serious danger.

All the effects of driving distracted

Most drivers know that driving distracted is a bad idea. A recent study at the University of Utah, though, came up with some impressively scary results. Driving with a .08 blood alcohol level the risk of a crash by four times. The chances of a crash go up eight times if you text when you drive. Twice as dangerous as driving drunk is driving distracted.

Laws against distracted driving

Because of the increased risk of an accident, numerous states have passed laws against distracted driving. You will find eight states that restrict handheld cell phones during any kind of driving; 29 states ban “novice drivers,” and 18 states ban bus drivers from using cell phones at all when driving. Texting while driving was banned by thirty states. There is a complete list of cell phone bans on the Governors Highway Safety Association website.

Discover more information:

Pew Internet and American Life Project

pewinternet.org/

University of Utah

psych.utah.edu/lab/appliedcognition/

Governors Highway Safety Association site

ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html