Shocking Stats on Texting While Driving
As part of the OPERA experiment, physicists tracked how long it takes for neutrons generated at CERN to reach a detector 730km away in Italy. / National Institute of Nuclear Physics (ITFN) in Italy
When I think about all the possible dangers associated with technology (cyberbullying, sexting, inappropriate material, online and game addiction and even the remote chance of being harmed by a predator), nothing strikes me as scarier than texting while driving.
A recently released study (PDF) by the VirginiaTech Transportation Institute found that truck drivers who were texting were 23 times more at risk of a "crash or near crash event" than "nondistracted driving." As per talking on a cell phone, the same study found no increased risk for truck drivers and 1.3 times the risk for car drivers. There was considerably more risk associated with dialing while driving. The institute's Richard Hanowski acknowledges that the numbers are likely to be different with car drivers. As reported by CNET's Jennifer Guevin, the study also found that "texting took a driver's focus away from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds--enough time...to travel the length of a football field at 55 mph."
A December 2007 simulator study by Clemson University found that "text messaging and using iPods caused drivers to leave their lanes 10 percent more often."
Paul Green, research professor at University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute who has done a decade's worth of research on driver distraction, said "from the science so far, it's very clearly a problem. We don't have exact statistics yet, we have enough information to say that texting shouldn't be permitted while driving."
The New York Times has created an interactive game that measures how reaction time is affected by distractions.
Teens at biggest risk
When it comes to texting while driving, teens are a particular risk group considering that, according to Nielsen (PDF), "The average U.S. mobile teen now sends or receives an average of 2,899 text-messages per month" and apparently some of those texts are being sent and read from behind the wheel.
A 2007 study conducted by AAA and Seventeen magazine has been widely misquoted as 46 percent of teens admit to texting while driving. But what the study found is that "61 percent of teens admit to risky driving habits." Forty-six percent of that 61 percent say that they text message while driving.
This issue is in the news a bit more than usual these days because of a shocking video created by a police department in the UK. It depicts a teenage girl texting while driving followed by a terrible crash with gruesome results for her friends in her car and the family whose car she hit. Before viewing the video (scroll down) please be aware that it is graphic and very disturbing. And before forwarding it to a teenager, also be aware that many youth risk prevention specialists question the effectiveness of videos that try to use shock value to change teen behavior.
Shock videos can backfire
Russell Sabella, professor of counseling in the College of Education, Florida Gulf Coast University, says that "While there is some research that shows that some students can be sensitized to potential consequences from videos like it, there is also evidence that students get emotionally aroused in the short term but desensitize in the long term. He said "some students get reinforced by the message that this happens to others but 'it won't happen to me.'"
Professor Sabella "would rather see a video with more positive role modeling such as someone who turns off their phone before they drive or perhaps uses a "designated texter"--someone else in the car who can do the texting for you." If a shock video is going to be used, he said "is has be of a comprehensive effort which includes kids, parents, teachers, legislators, and authorities."
"A more effective approach," said Patti Agatston from the Marietta, Ga.-based
Prevention/Intervention Center, "might be to have teens involved in creating a public service announcement that include positive messages about looking out for themselves and the people they care about by not texting and driving." Agatston says that it's "helpful for youth to receive consistent and repeated messages from a variety of sources, including their peers and parents or guardians."
Don't just forward this to your kids
Indeed, if you are going to show this video to your kids, I suggest you watch it with them or, better yet, assemble a group of teens to watch it together and discuss it among themselves. What their peers say will have a bigger impact than what you say. You can view the video here:
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. A recently released study (PDF) by the VirginiaTech Transportation Institute found that truck drivers who were texting were 23 times more at risk of a "crash or near crash event" than "nondistracted driving." As per talking on a cell phone, the same study found no increased risk for truck drivers and 1.3 times the risk for car drivers. There was considerably more risk associated with dialing while driving. The institute's Richard Hanowski acknowledges that the numbers are likely to be different with car drivers. As reported by CNET's Jennifer Guevin, the study also found that "texting took a driver's focus away from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds--enough time...to travel the length of a football field at 55 mph."
A December 2007 simulator study by Clemson University found that "text messaging and using iPods caused drivers to leave their lanes 10 percent more often."
Paul Green, research professor at University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute who has done a decade's worth of research on driver distraction, said "from the science so far, it's very clearly a problem. We don't have exact statistics yet, we have enough information to say that texting shouldn't be permitted while driving."
The New York Times has created an interactive game that measures how reaction time is affected by distractions.
Teens at biggest risk
When it comes to texting while driving, teens are a particular risk group considering that, according to Nielsen (PDF), "The average U.S. mobile teen now sends or receives an average of 2,899 text-messages per month" and apparently some of those texts are being sent and read from behind the wheel.
A 2007 study conducted by AAA and Seventeen magazine has been widely misquoted as 46 percent of teens admit to texting while driving. But what the study found is that "61 percent of teens admit to risky driving habits." Forty-six percent of that 61 percent say that they text message while driving.
This issue is in the news a bit more than usual these days because of a shocking video created by a police department in the UK. It depicts a teenage girl texting while driving followed by a terrible crash with gruesome results for her friends in her car and the family whose car she hit. Before viewing the video (scroll down) please be aware that it is graphic and very disturbing. And before forwarding it to a teenager, also be aware that many youth risk prevention specialists question the effectiveness of videos that try to use shock value to change teen behavior.
Shock videos can backfire
Russell Sabella, professor of counseling in the College of Education, Florida Gulf Coast University, says that "While there is some research that shows that some students can be sensitized to potential consequences from videos like it, there is also evidence that students get emotionally aroused in the short term but desensitize in the long term. He said "some students get reinforced by the message that this happens to others but 'it won't happen to me.'"
Professor Sabella "would rather see a video with more positive role modeling such as someone who turns off their phone before they drive or perhaps uses a "designated texter"--someone else in the car who can do the texting for you." If a shock video is going to be used, he said "is has be of a comprehensive effort which includes kids, parents, teachers, legislators, and authorities."
"A more effective approach," said Patti Agatston from the Marietta, Ga.-based
Prevention/Intervention Center, "might be to have teens involved in creating a public service announcement that include positive messages about looking out for themselves and the people they care about by not texting and driving." Agatston says that it's "helpful for youth to receive consistent and repeated messages from a variety of sources, including their peers and parents or guardians."
Don't just forward this to your kids
Indeed, if you are going to show this video to your kids, I suggest you watch it with them or, better yet, assemble a group of teens to watch it together and discuss it among themselves. What their peers say will have a bigger impact than what you say. You can view the video here:
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A bisual is not going to send the message home.
Years ago a man hit a tree in the middle of the night. I was in bed. The reason I could not do anything was I could not see to.I was a teen. The cry was awful. It was a death cry. It seemed to have gone on for hours. It was a cry so different from a reg cry. Those who have heaed that cry knows what I talking about.I have never forgotten that cry. It was lesson that it can happen to everybody. I was a foster child and their rules were I don't leave the house without premission. I did not know the area,
Is there any way that they can be convinced that they are not imortal???
Lots of luck!!!!
They do realise the yakking on the cell is very unsafe to do in yer Nation as it is here in US. The car is for friving not multitasking. Yer eye,ears, mind,hands are on driving. Hang the bloody cell up as that is what voice mail is for.
I have walked and talked on a cell. Not very smart to do as I am legally blind and a white cane user. Phone rings and for my safety I stop and talk.
Texting is blocked as I have no idea of what it is plus it is a sighted thing. They are not suppost to use a cell while driving. Drivers never seem to pay attn. They run the walk light. In America we have the white cane law in all states. Since I can't see the driver I use use hand singal to let drivers know the way I wish to cross the street. Drivers should know the white cane law. I have been hit by a driver not paying attn. It is fearful. We have laws against drink and drive, I use mass transit.
Drivers need to use commonsense.
I just watched the visual. It was awful. I am 54. The problem with people is they have a mindset that it can't gappen to them only someone else. It happens to everyone. Hang up the phone,the phone is not worth losting yer life over. Drive properly.
Otherwise, it's just a bad thing.
Using a cell phone while driving has been illegal here for a while, but the recent making of the video draws attention to the fact that many drivers here break the law - whether texting or speaking.
The danger is not just texting teens, it's also bosses who phone employees knowing that they're driving, and people of all ages who don't see why they shouldn't use the phone. Last week, my car missed getting smashed by a 4x4 wandering into my lane, the middle-aged driver holding a cell phone to his ear. It's the kind of thing experienced by many people.
Research in the UK shows clearly that drivers texting or speaking/listening on cell phones often don't realise how erratically they're driving - endangering themselves and others by moving across, slowing down, etc.
Research here also shows that even hands-free phones aren't safe, because the degree of concentration required for hands-free phone calls still causes erratic driving. In other words, people can't do the two things together without a drop in performance. We should beware of people who claim that they can!
Some people see no difference between cell phone conversations and conversations with passengers. But talking with passengers in the car is very different from using a phone, as passengers can see when the driver needs to concentrate on driving without distraction, or the driver can just ignore them.
'Distraction' is the key word. Texting and cell phone conversations may distract the driver for minutes, which is why they're especially dangerous. But plainly other, shorter distractions, can be perilous depending on traffic conditions e.g. fiddling with the radio or CD changer, lighting a cigarette, etc.
It's commonsense, not rocket science!
@ band3x, how can you that texting while driving is safe? I would have to disagree with you there.