Today's News by Jack Nerad for Driving Today

Texting and Driving -- a No-No

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Distracted driving got a new challenge when the popularity of texting began to explode.
 
Now, several states have banned texting as you drive, and there is good reason, as a recent Australian study found. 

SGIO Car Insurance conducted a test that challenged people to drive and text. It revealed that drivers spent almost 70 percent of the trip glancing at their phone -- greatly increasing the chance of a crash. The test, which was conducted on a closed-circuit private road, also discovered that the drivers on average glanced at their phone 38 times for an average length of 1.4 seconds during the trip in order to compose a short text message.

This means that drivers traveling at 37 mph are glancing at their phone for 72 feet at a time, which is almost five car lengths. That, of course, can make a big difference in a potential crash or near-miss situation.

“People clearly have an appetite for mobile phones and the convenience they offer through immediate communication,” said Robert McDonald, head of the insurer’s Research Centre. “But drivers need to resist the urge to send or read that message when it comes through; it’s not only dangerous for the driver, but also for the passengers and other drivers on the road."

McDonald also warned drivers that it was risky doing anything else while driving, such as eating or drinking, checking your appearance or smoking. If you lose focus while behind the wheel, even if only for a split second, the consequences can be serious, he said.

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