The Dangers of Texting While Driving

Table of Contents:
Introducing the topic

Discussing the Dangers

Frequently Asked Questions Facts related to distracted driving

Laws relating to T&D

Real life examples Take the Pledge

What is distracted driving?

There are three main types of distraction:
Visua l taking your eyes off the road Manua l taking you hands of the wheel Cognitive taking your mind off what youre doing

Distracted driving is any non-driving activity a person engages in while operating a motor vehicle. Such activities have the potential to distract the person from the primary task of driving and increase the risk of crashing.

Why do People Do it?

There are many reasons for distracted driving including :
Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player Using a navigation system Talking to passengers Eating and drinking

Watching a video
Grooming Reading

Many people us technology such as cell phones, Blackberrys, and other electronic devices as their main means of communication. They forget to put these devices down when they should be paying the closest attention to their driving for the sake of their own safety and that of others.

Who are the Offenders? How big of a problem is this?

Everyone is guilty to a certain extent .
The youngest Americans are most at risk, but they are not alone.

At any given moment during the daylight hours, over 800,000 vehicles are being driven by someone using a hand-held cell phone. People of all ages are using a variety of hand held devices, such as cell phones, mp3 players, personal digital assistants, and navigation devices, when they are behind the wheel .

Is it safe to use hands-free cell phones while driving? (headset, speakerphone, or other
device)

No. This is a myth.

The available research indicates that whether it is a hands-free or handheld device, the cognitive distraction is significant enough to degrade a drivers performance. The driver is more likely to miss key visual and audio cues needed to avoid a crash.

Is talking on a cell phone any worse than having a conversation with someone in the car?

Some research findings show both activities to be equally risky, while others show cell phone use to be more risky. A significant difference between the two:
A passenger can monitor the driving situation along with the driver and pause for, or alert the driver to, potential hazards, whereas a person on the other end of the phone line is unaware of the roadway situation.

How do the states deal with this problem?

Many states have laws that ban the use of cell-phones while driving. There are currently 39 states that have laws against texting while driving. 10 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and the Virgin Islands prohibit hand-held cell phone use by all drivers. http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/transport/cellular-phone-use-andtexting-while-driving-laws.aspx

North Carolina law states that anyone under the age of 18 cannot use a cell phone at all when they are driving except in emergencies or to contact their parents. North Carolinas strictest distracted driving laws are aimed at protecting children and teens.
The laws pertaining to adult drivers are more lenient and do not completely ban the use of mobile phones. Adults are allowed to make phone calls.

Texting is illegal for all ages.

Possible Penalties
Falls under State Law Citation and a fine Class 2 misdemeanor

Risk of injuring yourself and others

Lawsuit

Did you know

Writing or reading a text message takes your eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. At 55 MPH, thats like driving the length of a football eld blindfolded.

If you text while youre behind the wheel, youre 20 times more likely to be involved in a crash than a non-distracted driver.

Talking on a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity devoted to driving by 37%.

Did you know (Cont.)

Texting and driving is killing more teens than drinking and driving. An analysis done by researchers at a medical center in New York, estimates that 3,000 teens in the United States are killed annually in accidents caused by texting and driving. Another 300,000 are injured. That compares with 2,700 young people killed yearly as a result of drinking and driving, according to the CDC. About 282,000 are treated in emergency rooms for injuries caused by drinking accidents.

Teenagers are mostly drinking and driving on the weekends but they are texting and driving 7 days a week.

Lets get real

In 2010, nearly 3,092 people were killed, and an estimated additional 416,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver.

Young people are especially at risk: 11% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted.

Distracted Driving Happens in RobCo.

Texting and Driving Takes Lives

http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/watch-werner-herzogs-distracteddriving-documentary-if-you-can-bear-6C10885578

http://www.distraction.gov/content/faces/index.html Ashville, NC

What Can You Do?

Make a pledge to protect lives by never texting or talking on the phone while driving.
Be a good passenger and speak up if the driver in your car is distracted. Spread the word to your family and friends about the dangers of distracted driving.