The Dangers of Texting and Driving (2013 Edition)

You’ve heard it all before.  Texting and driving should not mix.  We’ve all been ridiculed and yelled at for checking our phones in the HOV lane, dashing passed a red light while flicking our phone and having full blown conversations via MMS.  Texting and driving is DEADLY.  This isn’t a filtered blog with soft-spoken words, it’s a PSA for those who drive while browsing and texting on their phones.  We’re providing some scary facts on WHY LOL can lead to RIP.  Please be safe out there, fans! We care about ‘ya!

In 2011, at least 23% of auto collisions involved cellphones.  That’s 1.3 million crashes.

Five seconds is the average amount of time your attention is taken away from the road.  So, if you’re traveling at 55 mph, this equals driving the length of a football field without looking at the road.

77% of young adults are very or somewhat confident that they can safely text while driving.

55% of young adults claim it’s easy to text while they drive.

Teens who text while driving spend 10% of their driving time outside of their lane

48% of young drivers have seen their parents drive while talking on a cell phone.

1 in 5 drivers of all ages confess to surfing the web while driving.

Texting while driving increases the risk of accident 23.2 times over unimpaired driving.

Texting while driving results in longer response times than even drunken driving. While an unimpaired driver can respond quickly to changes in traffic and begin braking within half a second, a legally drunk driver needs four additional feet to begin braking—and a driver who’s texting needs 70.

Drive safely!