Hang Up and Drive

There are 3 types of distractions while driving:

Visual – Taking your eyes off the road

Manual – Taking your hands off the wheel

Cognitive – Taking you mind off driving

Texting while driving is especially dangerous as it combines all 3 types of distraction.

The Facts:

– Sending or reading a text message takes your eyes off the road for about 5 seconds which is long enough to cover a football field, if driving 55 mph

– Drivers under the age of 20 are most at risk
– There is a 1 in 4 chance that a crash will involve a cell phone
– 1 in 3 drivers between the ages of 18-64 admit to either reading a text or composing one while driving

– 9 Americans are killed every day due to motor vehicle accidents involving texting and driving

– Texting and driving causes a driving experience that is similar to someone driving after drinking 4 beers in 1 hour

So why do people text and drive?

– 43% say they want to stay connected with friends, family and work
– 30% say they text and drive out of habit
– 28% say they are afraid of missing something important
– 27% say they felt others expected them to answer their phones right away

TEXTING & DRIVING IS AGAINST THE LAW

– 47 states and the District of Columbia have banned texting and driving
– In Alaska the fine is $10,000
– In Florida, it is currently a secondary offence. However, it is currently being presented to our legislators in hopes of passing the ‘Texting while driving‘ bill … if it passes, Florida would join 43 other states by making texting while driving a primary offense, which allows law enforcement to pull over drivers solely for sending messages while behind the wheel.