Distracted Driving - Latest News

A new study confirms what we already know -- texting while driving is a huge risk.  The results of the National Youth Traffic Safety Month survey that was sponsored by The Allstate Foundation show that although teens realize texting while driving (TWD) is dangerous – many still do it. Are you one of those who regularly text while driving?

The survey results show that teens rank texting and talking on a cell one of the most dangerous driving risks (87% believe texting while driving is dangerous); and

• Compared to other dangerous driving situations, teens indicated that they feel texting is only second to the danger of driving on icy roads -- yet many teens admit to doing it anyway.

• 68% of teens admit to texting while driving (79 percent females) but only 21% reported that they were confident in their driving ability while texting.

• 63% say talking on a cell phone while driving is also dangerous.

• 83% of teens admit to talking on their cell phone while driving (90% female) but only 43% reported that they were confident in their driving ability while talking on a cell phone. 

This study also found that texting while driving increases the risk of a crash much more than previous studies have concluded with motorists taking their eyes off the road longer than they do when talking or listening on their cell phones.

Dialing a cell phone and using or reaching for an electronic device increased the risk of collision about 6 times in cars and trucks. Right before a crash or near collision, drivers spent nearly five seconds looking at their devices, which was enough time at 55 mph to cover more than the length of a football field.

Read more about this ground-breaking study by clicking here.