Quantifying the Risk of Texting Drivers

An anonymous reader writes "More than 5000 people die each year as a result of being distracted while driving, and a new study indicates that teens and cell phones make for the most volatile combination. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that of all drivers under 20 involved in fatal crashes, 16 percent were distracted — the highest proportion of any age group. 'Shockingly, texting drivers took their eyes off the road for each text an average of 4.6 seconds — which at 55 mph, means they were driving the length of a football field without looking,' said David Hosansky."

Comments

Adjusting radio averages 3 seconds.

[Maxo-Texas]

I did some testing and adjusting the radio takes me about 3 seconds.

But I can control when I adjust it.

I'd be more concerned about people reading a text that arrived at a risky time than scanning the road, then texting.

I could not text and drive safely.

Re:Texting drivers have no shame

[blackest_k]

previous comment cut off due to approaching intersection ...

Re:Darwin

[Rakshasa-sensei]

I have a better idea, one that has a much lower ratio of intelligent people needing to die.

It involves handing out guns to cyclists and giving them permits to shoot any fucker texting. Even if there's a few fake positives it will be much lower than the number dying due to texting drivers.

Teens today lack basic driving skills . . .

[PolygamousRanchKid]

Back in the 70's a teen could drive 100 mph in a 25 mph zone, while simultaneously smoking a joint, snorting a line of coke off the dashboard, fingering his squealing girlfriend and not spill a drop from the glass filled with Jim Beam held in his one hand on the steering wheel.

So obviously, texting has distracted them from learning these important core driving skills, and is to blame.

Actually, you can't ban every foolish activity while driving, because fools are so ingenious, and will always find a foolish way to distract themselves while driving.

Re:Inexperienced drivers are inexperienced

[History's Coming To]

I can drive safely while texting. The process goes like this:

1: Pick up phone.
2: Try to find "text" button while keeping my eyes on the road and fully concentrating on possible hazards.
3: Realise that's impossible.
4: Pull over.
5: Text.

Re:Obligatory YouTube video

[BronsCon]

Likewise. I can't count the number of times someone on a bike has made a left turn *ON RED* in front of me when I had a green light to go straight. Of course, since I'm paying attention, I know to lay on the horn, flash the brights, and floor it. Maybe after I kill a few of you, you'll learn to obey traffic laws just as you expect us to.