Is it possible that there are a few people out there that don't realize that texting while driving is hazardous? Apparently so. A recent study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute reported that truck drivers increased their risk of collision by 23% when they indulged in this behavior. The study used cameras to show that drivers took their eyes off the road for about 5 seconds right before a crash or close call. Yikes.
I admit that I am one of those holdouts who does not own a cellphone. If I ever get one, though, I think I will have enough common sense not to take one hand and both eyes off the road while behind the wheel of a two-ton vehicle! While I am sure that many people who use cellphones do so responsibly, there are just as many who do not.
This past summer, accidents that occurred while the driver was texting were all over the news. Seventeen states, as well as the District of Columbia, have outlawed texting, according to a Washington Post article by Ashley Halsey III. The aforementioned study stated that collision risk increases six times when drivers dial a cellphone or are otherwise distracted by the device. Approximately 1 million persons are using a cellphone while driving at any point in time, according to the National Safety Council. That's a lot of distracted drivers.
I believe these numbers. It seems that whenever I venture out to shop, almost every driver I see is struggling to park, back up or turn a corner without taking off my front end--all the while chatting up a storm on his or her cellphone. A friend has jokingly said that everyone else drives like a jerk whenever he's driving around using his cellphone.
Are people that lonely and starved for conversation that they absolutely can't wait until they've at least parked the car to whip out the portable phone? Another survey mentioned in the Post article says that 8 out of 10 drivers admit to using their phones while driving. Some congressmen are considering withholding federal highway dollars unless states get serious about regulating these devices. Let's hope this happens sooner rather than later.
I admit that I am one of those holdouts who does not own a cellphone. If I ever get one, though, I think I will have enough common sense not to take one hand and both eyes off the road while behind the wheel of a two-ton vehicle! While I am sure that many people who use cellphones do so responsibly, there are just as many who do not.
This past summer, accidents that occurred while the driver was texting were all over the news. Seventeen states, as well as the District of Columbia, have outlawed texting, according to a Washington Post article by Ashley Halsey III. The aforementioned study stated that collision risk increases six times when drivers dial a cellphone or are otherwise distracted by the device. Approximately 1 million persons are using a cellphone while driving at any point in time, according to the National Safety Council. That's a lot of distracted drivers.
I believe these numbers. It seems that whenever I venture out to shop, almost every driver I see is struggling to park, back up or turn a corner without taking off my front end--all the while chatting up a storm on his or her cellphone. A friend has jokingly said that everyone else drives like a jerk whenever he's driving around using his cellphone.
Are people that lonely and starved for conversation that they absolutely can't wait until they've at least parked the car to whip out the portable phone? Another survey mentioned in the Post article says that 8 out of 10 drivers admit to using their phones while driving. Some congressmen are considering withholding federal highway dollars unless states get serious about regulating these devices. Let's hope this happens sooner rather than later.
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