Distracted driving accounts for many car accidents in Maryland. Although there are laws against this dangerous habit, many motorists still engage in it and put everyone at risk. Texting behind the wheel is considered the worst of all kinds of distracted driving; these facts explain why.
Statistics on texting while driving
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that over 3,500 people died in car accidents caused by distracted driving in 2021. During that same year, more than 16% of people admitted to texting while driving, which accounted for about a 2% decrease compared with 2020.
Over 52% of women admitted to texting behind the wheel compared with men despite admitting that the habit is dangerous. Younger drivers between 18 and 24 are more likely to text while driving. More than 15% admitted to doing so while 20% claimed to be unfamiliar with the laws about texting and driving.
The dangers of texting and driving
Texting while driving is considered the most dangerous form of distracted driving because it involves all three types of distractions: cognitive, manual and visual. Whether you’re reading, composing or sending a text message, you must concentrate on what you’re doing, use your hands and look at your phone. This means your focus is off the road and your hands leave the steering wheel, which can be deadly.
According to the NHTSA, even glancing at a text message for five seconds is the equivalent of traveling the length of a football field with closed eyes. This underscores how dangerous it is to be distracted by your phone. An accident can occur in seconds and take a life.
No text message is worth the risk to you or others. Putting your phone on do not disturb until you reach your destination is the best way to avoid a distracted driving accident.