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

Distracted driving is the newest worry for most drivers on the road. The belief of most is that teen drivers are the ultimate distracted drivers, but new studies are showing exactly the opposite. Between texting, phone calls and having the internet in their hands, adults appear to be probably the most distracted drivers on the road. What’s the real risk, though?

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

Who really is driving distracted?

A recent poll from the Pew Internet and American Life Project shows that adults are usually 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’re driving, while only 52 percent of 16 and 17-year-olds do. On top of that, more than 40 percent of individuals say they are in a automobile where somebody else’s cell phone use has put them in significant danger.

All the effects of driving distracted

Drivers known distracted driving is a bad idea. A University of Utah study came up with scary results. Driving with a .08 blood alcohol level — the legal limit in numerous states – will increase the risk of a crash by about four times. Driving when texting, though, has been shown to increase the chance of a crash by up to eight times. Twice as dangerous as driving drunk is driving distracted.

Laws against distracted driving

Because of the increased risk of an accident being caused, many states have passed laws against distracted driving. There are eight states that restrict handheld cell phones during driving; 29 states ban “novice drivers,” and 18 states ban bus drivers from using their cell phones when driving. Thirty states have banned texting when driving. There is a complete list of cell phone bans you can find on the Governors Highway Safety Association website.

Discover more about this topic here:

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