Texting and driving is a known hazard on the roads, yet people continue to take the risk every day. It’s always a good idea to talk to your loved ones about the risks of driving while distracted by texting, so you can make it clear that it’s a dangerous, and potentially deadly, behavior.
With the right statistics, it’s easier to open people’s eyes to the dangers of texting while driving. For example, did you know that there are around 2.5 million people impacted by traffic accidents yearly? Of those crashes, around 1.6 million involve the use of a cellphone.
Thousands are hurt due to distracted driving
Every year, around 421,000 people end up injured due to crashes caused by a driver who was distracted. The driver may have been texting, reading emails or placing a call. Regardless of the reasons, their distractions lead to injuries.
It takes around five seconds to read a text. Even shorter texts still distract a driver for around that long. Why? They have to pick up their device, read the text and put it back down. Sometimes, this time is extended if the person chooses to return the text.
It’s not just teens who text
Teens are often blamed for texting-and-driving crashes, but the reality is that anyone can cause these collisions. Whether it’s a teen or an adult, the result is the same: A crash with the potential to kill.
No driver should be behind the wheel when distracted. Know your limits, and pull over if you need to text or return a call.