Just recently, several states have passed a law that prohibits drivers from operating cell phones after a number of studies suggested that these communication devices can significantly reduce a person’s response time and focus on driving.
Just recently, several states have passed a law that prohibits drivers from operating cell phones after a number of studies suggested that these communication devices can significantly reduce a person’s response time and focus on driving.
Texting More Dangerous Among Truck Drivers
Because trucks are harder to maneuver and have a greater braking distance compared to lighter vehicles, texting are particularly more dangerous among truckers.
This has been proven by a study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute which showed that texting truckers are 23 times more likely to crash compared to those who are not using any communication device.
The study involved installing video cameras from more than a hundred trucks for 18 months to determine if handheld phones can significantly increase the risk of collision.
The result of the study is surprising. According to the researchers, texting truckers spent an average of five seconds to operate their cell phones—enough to cover the length of a football field if a vehicle is traveling at typical highway speeds.
However, despite the glaring dangers of distracted driving, some states officials have rejected the total ban of cell phone use among drivers, adding that they need more data that will prove if such law is necessary.
Statistics on Cell Phone Use
Recently, the National Safety Council has released a data showing that cell phone use is linked to one in four crashes, or nearly 1.6 million accidents every year. This data is not surprising since a recent study shows that at any time of the day, more than 10 percent of drivers are using their cell phones. (This is not hard to imagine since Americans sent more than 110 billion text messages in 2008 alone.)
In its data, the safety group has also showed that every year, 20,000 crashes are linked to texting while 1.4 million are caused by drivers talking on their cell phones.
Auto Laws to Prevent Phone-related Accident
Because texting while driving is a serious issue, several safety groups have urged the federal government to pass a law that will require all states to ban the use of handheld phones among drivers, or else receive lower highway funds. (This proposed legislation is based on the federal DUI law that reduces highway funds of states that will not increase its drinking age limit to 21.)
Currently, only six states and the District of Columbia ban drivers from using communication devices behind the wheel, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.
