Distracted Drivers More Likely to Get in Accidents

Daniel Buckfire

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Recent studies confirm what many people already know: distracted drivers are more likely to get in an accident and injure themselves or others. It is suspected that text messaging was involved in the recent Los Angeles Metrolink commuter train accident, but thousands of drivers use their cell phones to talk, text, instant message, or email every day.

Five States have banned text messaging while driving. These States include Alaska, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Washington State. The District of Columbia has also enacted a ban. Several other States are considering a ban, including California, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Nevada, Delaware, and Michigan. These bills range from limiting text messaging to older drivers to a complete ban for all drivers, but their goal is all the same: to eliminate a major distraction and can—and does—cause injuries.

The use of text messaging while driving is most prevalent among younger drivers. According to the Nationwide Insurance survey of 1500 drivers, approximately 40% of drivers under the age of 30 have admitted to texting while driving. Despite the greater likelihood of texting among younger drivers, the problem of driver distraction is experienced across generational gaps. According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, some form of driver inattention within the last 3 seconds plays a role in 80% of all car accidents and in 65% of near-misses.