Texting Is Killing More Than Drunk Driving
After studies were published blaming texting to be more dangerous than driving drunk several states have banned texting while driving. A road test run by Car & Driver magazine showed dramatically slower reaction times by two test drivers who tried to brake while reading and, separately, writing text messages. Previous studies on DWT have typically been run in car simulators.
The Virginia General Assembly passed a law this year banning texting and emailing while driving. The fine is $20 for a first offense and $50 for each additional offense. Texting while driving will be a secondary offense, meaning a police officer must have another reason to stop a driver. The state police believe this will be enough to keep most people from texting and driving. “For the most part, I think it will keep most folks from doing that, but you’ll have those that will persist,” says Pyanoe. State troopers say that reporting an emergency to 911 is an exception to the law. Another exception for the new texting law covers emergency crews and law enforcement officials.
Here’s the main observations:
- A sober driver took half a second to brake
- A drunken driver with a blood alcohol level of .08 took 4 extra feet to brake
- A sober driver reading e-mails traveled 36 additional feet
- A sober driver sending text messages traveled 70 additional feet
The study was conducted on the taxiway of an old airstrip in Michigan, but police officers such as Katina Lewis of the Lakeland Police Department say the scenario could easily play out on real roadways. Lakeland police officers estimate 80 percent of all the rear-end collisions they investigate are the result of distracted drivers. Texting is becoming a more common distraction, police say.
[...] Continued here: Texting Is Killing More Than Drunk Driving | areacellphone.com [...]
Leave your response!