Texting While Driving Statistics

In a poll carried out by Nationwide Insurance in 2008, 81 percent of the respondents admitted to have resorted to the use of cell phone while driving a vehicle in spite of being well versed with various dangers of the same. Whilst going through the statistics on use of cell phone while driving, you can't help but notice that the problem has reached epidemic proportions, with thousands of people either losing their lives or getting severely injured in such accidents. While the administrative authorities are trying their level best to curb this practice, people on the wheel seem to be least interested about following road safety etiquette. Before we move on to the details of texting while driving accident statistics, let's have a look at some generic texting while driving facts.

Texting While Driving

The distraction caused when you try to do two activities simultaneously spoils your chances of getting through both of them. One of the best example of this is the use of cell phones and driving. Many people resort to the use of cell phone while driving, a dangerous practice which is responsible for a significant number of accidents in the United States. The fact that cell phones have become affordable over the period of time has contributed to the popular trend of owning one. With the increase in use of cell phones, the person's craving for texting and talking on the phone also increases. People can't seem to resist attending calls and replying to messages, not even while driving. When a person engages in cell phone use while driving, he tends to ignore road signs and fails to keep a watch on the road, both of which are perfect recipes for a disaster. Surprisingly, texting while driving is quite popular among the teenagers and adults alike.

Dangers of Texting While Driving: Statistics

A study by Virginia Tech Driving Institute revealed that those who resort to texting while driving are 23 time more likely to meet with an accident. A comparative study of texting while driving vs drunk driving statistics published in a leading car magazine in the United States revealed that texting while driving is even more dangerous than drunk driving. Studies reveal that a person who is texting while driving at the speed of 35 mph will cover 25 ft before bringing the car to complete halt as compared to a distance of 4 ft which a drunk driver would cover at the same speed. According to the texting while driving death statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 5,870 people died in car crashes in 2008 alone. The same statistics revealed that 515,000 people were injured in various car crashes in the United States. Around 28 percent of all crashes in 2008 were caused by drivers in the age group of 18 and 29, who admitted to texting while driving. The popular belief, that the number of teenagers texting while driving is more as compared to adults, got a major blow when the texting while driving statistics 2010 compiled by Pew Research Center revealed that 47 percent of the adults resort to texting as compared to 34 percent of the teenagers. The same stats revealed that 75 percent of the adults resort to phone conversation while driving as compared to 52 percent of the teenagers.

The compilation of texting while driving statistics gives you an idea as to why texting is considered to be the most serious among the various distractions while driving. Several states have come ordinances which outlaw the practice of texting while driving within their jurisdiction. One of the best example is the state of Georgia, wherein texting while on the driving wheel can earn you a fine of around $150 and/or result in a point on the drivers license. Constituting and implementing such rules and regulations can help in bringing down the number of texting related accidents by a significant extent. At the same time, the onus is on the parents to make sure that their wards make wise use of the vehicle and gadget given to them.