Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Text Messaging While Driving More Dangerous Than DUI

October 2, 2008

A study by the Transport Research Laboratory, a British center for transport research, has suggested that texting while driving is riskier than driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Texting adversely effects drivers’ reaction times, steering control (ie. drifting out of the lane), and maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in front. Motorists who use their mobile phone to send text messages while on the road dramatically increase the likelihood of collision - their reaction times deteriorated by 35 per cent. In comparison, those who drank alcohol at the legal limit were 12 per cent slower, those under the influence of marijuana were 21 per cent slower.

Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, which commissioned the research, said: “No responsible motorist would drink and drive. We need to ensure that text devotees understand that texting is one of the most hazardous things that can be done while in charge of a motor car.”

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