Text messaging while driving found to be more dangerous than drunk driving
Fri Sep 19, 2008 4:54PM EDT
See Comments (260)
The next time you try to text your buddies "on the way, c u there" while driving, consider this: Driving while text messaging is more dangerous than drinking and driving or driving under the influence of marijuana.
The Transport Research Laboratory in the U.K. (via The Times Online) found that when subjects were text messaging and driving at the same time, reaction speed was reduced by 35 percent, thereby increasing the likelihood of an incident. Those that were driving and drinking within the legal limit only suffered a 12 percent loss of reaction speed, and those that were driving under the influence of marijuana had their reaction speed reduced by 21 percent, 14 percent lower than while driving and texting.
Another startling statistic: According to the study, those that were texting and driving reduced their steering ability by 91 percent.
The worst part about the whole thing, in my opinion, is the general public's lack of knowledge on just how dangerous it can be. Everyone knows how dangerous it can be to drink and drive, but really, does everyone know that even picking up your cell phone for a quick text reduces your reaction speed by three times?
So, what do you all think? Does driving under the influence of texting your BFF appear to be more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol? Do you believe laws should be passed to prohibit this action, like in Washington? Let me know in the comments below.
For more information and details regarding the study, head on over to the Times Online. Be safe out there, America.
The Times Online - Texting wihle driving is more dangerous than drink-driving
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Comments on Text messaging while driving found to be more dangerous than drunk driving
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27 Posted by kimlynn_19 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:51PM EDT Report Abuse
just because something is illegal isn't going to stop people from doing it. Yes people do stupid things while driving, some of which I think are worse than texting or calling on cell phones. I've seen women putting on their make-up, plucking their eyebrows, etc. all while being behind the wheel!!! Yes, I agree that doing other things while driving(including texting) is dangerous and I'll admit that I am occasionally of T-W-D, but I only do it while I'm siiting at red light, but I don't believe that outlawing it is the way to go. If we continue to outlaw things that drivers do, eventually we'll wind up outlawing driving all together!! Where do we draw the line people?!
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28 Posted by yojay01 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:56PM EDT Report Abuse
im jus as guilty.. ive texted while driving but, i suppose it depends on the individual itself. ive never encountered an incident *knocks on wood* but, i would definitely have to take in consideration of other ppl's safety other than my own.. so, a safe travel on the road should require safe drivers and therefore, i believe it should be banned!
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29 Posted by annie_69_97 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:55PM EDT Report Abuse
really???? we're gonna outlaw this too??? what next? outlaw driving while having to pee??? seriously folks...we pay for our own car, we pay for our own cell phones, yet we cant use them in our OWN cars, on our own time...what little we have left since most of our day belongs to our bosses, because some idiot cant figure out how to text, or god forbid talk, and drive at the same time!!!! absolutely redicultous!!! I smell communism approaching!
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30 Posted by the_sam_smart on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:06PM EDT Report Abuse
Lol. I drive with my friends all the time and they text on the straightaways when noone is coming their way. What your saying is that I'm SAFER if their doing Marijuana. ROFL. That is funny, man. Last but not least, im pretty sure if your doing marijuana, you won't even realize who you are, whats your name, or that your even in a vehicle......so once again. ROFL.
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31 Posted by snoopdogpoop on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:30PM EDT Report Abuse
Well now, maybe this is the hidden truth about cellphones. Perhaps, talking on the cellphone is not so bad after all. Personally, I always thought the combination of breaking road rules and cellphone use is how accidents happen.
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32 Posted by jac762002 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:26PM EDT Report Abuse
Most of these morons are crappy drivers any way. Lets face it, if you are taking your focus from the road and concentrating on the phone you have broken rule #1 already. You might as well drive down the road reading a book or the newspaper while putting on makeup and picking your nose.Wake up people pull over and stop if it's that important. My family deserves the right to be safe on the road.
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33 Posted by stresslessone on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:45PM EDT Report Abuse
Were they using High grade Mary Jane?
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34 Posted by the_sam_smart on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:06PM EDT Report Abuse
I'm Putting this on my blog. www.WebCrazed.blogspot.com Go there to see my thoughts on this, and maybe leave a nice comment. :)
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35 Posted by xkrnxedx on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:53PM EDT Report Abuse
did you have any statistics on how many people get into accidents caused by texting to that of alcohol/marijuana?
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36 Posted by bseehase on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:14PM EDT Report Abuse
why are they wasting money on banning something that we're all going to do anyways. There's no way to catch everyone that texts while driving. How do you know that person isn't just looking for a phone number. What they they should be doing is educate the people on how to text and at least look up every second especially through a intersection. You cant stop bad drivers. There always going to be out there. If you have a Qwerty phone thats just dumb to try to do but with regular phones T9 makes it so I can text faster than most pepole can type.
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37 Posted by brent7088 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:12PM EDT Report Abuse
Of course it should be banned... and the penalties for doing so should be as stiff as a DUI. If I witness anyone texting on the road, I will pull over and report them in a heartbeat. ZERO tolerance!
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38 Posted by amandamarie136 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:52PM EDT Report Abuse
lol wow whoever the idiot was that said you should get a sticker for being able to talk on the phone and drive is a complete MORON. people drive so horribly when they talk on the phone. like when they decide to drive twenty miles UNDER the speedlimit it's usually because they are on the phone. or when they cut you off..yeah. so i must say you get the idiot award for today. as for texting and driving...it's whatever all i know is if some idiot tries to bull----- and text and ends up getting ina wreck with me im going to be highly pissed.
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39 Posted by bargrum on Wed Oct 1, 2008 8:27PM EDT Report Abuse
Most anyone who does text while driving thinks they are the exception... there will always be an elitists pack of youth who think they are doing something that has never been done..putting other peoples lives at risk just takes a little arrogance and a whole lot of ignorance...
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40 Posted by bargrum on Wed Oct 1, 2008 8:33PM EDT Report Abuse
most all text messagers think they are the exception just like drunk drivers Its just takes a little arrogance and a whole lot of ignorance to put other peoples life at risk
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41 Posted by dahlface464 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:34PM EDT Report Abuse
Texting while driving is dangerous, but I'm sick of all of these rules that are being layed down on us. I'm a senior in high school and at this point in life I think teenagers and the rest of the driving population can make decisions for ourselves. I do think that the penalty of causing a wreck due to texting while driving should be great, but when will people learn that creating laws does not mean people will enfore them. Society doesn't work that way anymore.
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42 Posted by j.graen on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:26PM EDT Report Abuse
Driving is luxury, not a necessity. If it was a necessity the government would not tax gasoline like food, and clothing. Admittedly, texting/talking do increase accidents, but a person should be free to do whatever they please doing something no one is forcing you to do. If the government bans cell phone use, they should regulate everything. I understand it increases the odds of an accident but those odds are present every time you get into your car and turn the key. The government has no right regulating things which are not forced upon everyone, and if you think it is necessary to drive, then we should lose the gas tax.
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43 Posted by mv031 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:30PM EDT Report Abuse
I can't stand it when people txt or they're on the phone while they drive. They drive really slow. Its true, it is as bad as DUI. I notice more women txt and driving. I think that they are the worst with txt and driving. I beleive that they think that they can get away with by crying to the police officer if they get pulled over. I also think that women can't drive and especially txting and driving. I think women like to chat on the phone all day. I think that all they do is yap and complain all day.
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44 Posted by jennifermholland26 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:32PM EDT Report Abuse
I think that any one texting while drivin(if caught) should suffer the same punishment as some one that is drivin under the influence its the same as a real crime. And the same for people that talk and drive too, if its not an emergeny our short time frame then you should be punished the same.
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45 Posted by jennigreen29 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:32PM EDT Report Abuse
Idiots do idiotic things. More than once have I seen car accidents because someone was using their cellphone. Now to hear their texting on them? Some people should be arrested. What, do they have to kill someone before anything happens?
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26 Posted by d00d00br0wn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:33PM EDT Report Abuse
FYI, I'm driving right now and texting my comment. If you can't perform multi tasks at one time consider yourself retarded. Texting and driving is not dangerous. Is the slow driver on the left lane are the culprit.