When's the Last Time You Sent a Text While Driving?

October 29, 2022

Mountaineer News

Statistical Saturday's

It only takes a second, but it can have life-long repercussions.

Texting and driving may seem innocent enough (and it's certainly tempting to do), but every year thousands of faultless drivers and passengers are killed due to the negligence of other drivers.

As a form of distracted driving, texting while driving causes the driver to take their focus from the road and onto their hand-held device. Even while at a stoplight, this behavior can be dangerous, as drivers need to maintain total focus in order to drive safely.

14% of all fatal car crashes involve the improper use of a cellphone while driving, according to recent reports. With data from the NHTSA, the CDC and the NSC, we can further investigate the widespread problem of texting and driving.

KEY INSIGHTS + STATISTICS

1. Cell phone usage reduces a driver’s attention by as much as 37%.

2. In 2015, 42% of high school students admitted that they text or email while driving.

3. In 2015, 391,000 people were injured due to distracted driving.

4. In 2018, 400,000 people were injured and 2,800 people died in distracted driving motor vehicle accidents.

5. Approximately 660,000 drivers are attempting to use their phones while driving.

6. 14% of fatal crashes involve cell phones.

7. Using a phone while driving causes 1.6 million crashes every year.

8. Drivers who text while operating a vehicle are 23 times more likely to become involved in a car accident.

9. The chances of an accident occurring once a driver’s eyes are taken off the road increase by a staggering 400%.

10. More than 3,000 teens die each year in crashes that involve texting and driving.

FOR YOUR AND OTHERS' SAFETY, FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES WHEN DRIVING:

• Don't write, send or read a text message while driving, even when stopped at a red light or in traffic. These actions put you, and those around you, in danger. You may also be breaking the law. Many states are passing laws to restrict or ban the practice of text messaging while driving via distracted driving citations.

• Turn off your cell phone or PDA and put it in your pocket. Wait to use the device once you are safely and legally parked.