Keep Your Eyes on the Road: The Dangers of Texting While Driving

Technology is a gift especially if used correctly but if it is abused and misused, it can trigger a disaster.

Cellular phones have proven to be indispensable in this day and age where everyone is mobile and where information and facts need to be transmitted fast. Most Americans, even children have cell phones and one is considered a throwback to the dark ages if you’re not wireless and connected.

Texting in particular, is a very popular mode of communication through the cell phone. It is fun, harmless and a much cheaper way to keep your families and friends posted through text messages… or at least, that’s what you think.

An article from the NBC Bay Area website said that driving while texting (DWT) is as dangerous as drunk driving (DUI).

A new survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety of 2,500 U.S. residents ages 16 and older revealed that these motorists found DWT just as dangerous to their safety as DUI but more than two-thirds have admitted to using their cell phone while driving. 21 percent also came clean about being guilty of DWT.

A study recently conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute on light and heavy trucks found that drivers who texted has a risk of collision 23 times greater.

Dialing a cell phone and using or reaching for an electronic device also increased risk of collision about 6 times in cars and trucks.

According to the Institute, right before a crash or near collision, drivers spent nearly five seconds looking at their devices.

The study also found that the use of headsets in a cell phone is not substantially safer than hand-held as performing the tasks such as answering and dialing still manage to take drivers' eyes off the road.

The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in fact recommends that texting should be banned for all drivers, regardless of age and experience.

Currently, there are fourteen states that ban texting while driving, California being one of them.