We drive to go to and from work, to the store and everywhere in between. We spend an average of 1.5 hours a day in our car with the lure of texting literally at our finger tips. Here are some facts about texting and driving that will make you think twice before you pick up your phone while you operating a vehicle.
- The minimum amount of time that you spend reading a text is 5 seconds. That equates to driving the length of a football field (at 55 mph) without your eyes on the road!
- Text messaging while driving increases your chances of getting into an accident 23 times! That is more than making a call, talking, listening, or reaching for your device combined!
- Teens are not the only culprit. Young adults and adults do it too!
- 1 in 5 drivers of all ages confess they surf the web while driving.
While many drivers can justify their reasoning behind texting and driving these stats are just astonishing. If you still think texting and driving is ok check out what how many states have laws against it:
- 10 states prohibit the use of handheld cell phones while operating a vehicle.
- 32 states prohibit new drivers from the use of cell phones while operating a vehicle.
- 39 states prohibit all drivers from texting while driving
No matter how safe you think you are driving even while texting accidents can happen in fractions of a second. Here is what you can do to stop texting while driving:
- Recently a movement has started called #X or #driving. These are posts you put on your social platforms (facebook, twitter, etc) to let your friends know not to text you because you are driving.
- The biggest challenge rests on you. Abstain from texting and driving. Changing habits is one of the hardest things to do. But you can do it! Condition yourself to be cell free when you are in the car even if that means purchasing a Bluetooth the real way to stop texting and driving is with your conscious decision to do so.
Make a difference, stand against #textinganddriving and save a life, it may even be yours. Pledge to yourself that you can wait to answer that text, that tweet, or that Facebook notification. #drivesafe #stayalert and let the good times roll!
