Texting while Driving - Distracted Driving

Smartphones have made it easy for us to stay connected at all times. But that can pose serious safety risks if someone decides to check his or her mobile while driving.

Can you imagine driving down a busy road during rush-hour, covering your eyes for a few seconds at a time. That’s essentially what happens when you text and drive.

General Mobile Phone Statistics

• The National Safety Council reports that mobile phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year.
• Nearly 330,000 injuries occur each year from accidents caused by texting while driving.
• 1 out of every 4 car accidents in the United States is caused by texting and driving.
• Texting while driving is 6x more likely to cause an accident than driving drunk.
• Answering a text takes away your attention for about five seconds. Traveling at 88 kph, that's enough time to travel the length of a football field.
• Texting while driving causes a 400% increase in time spent with eyes off the road.
• Of all mobile phone related tasks, texting is by far the most dangerous activity.

Teen Driver Mobile Phone Statistics

• 11 teens die every day as a result of texting while driving.
• According to a AAA poll, 94% of teen drivers acknowledge the dangers of texting and driving, but 35% admitted to doing it anyway.
• 21% of teen drivers involved in fatal accidents were distracted by their mobile phones.
• Teen drivers are 4x more likely than adults to get into car crashes or near-crashes when talking or texting on a mobile phone.
• A teen driver with only one additional passenger doubles the risk of getting into a fatal car accident. With two or more passengers, they are 5x as likely.

From a recent survey conducted by the AA, of the 7,500 people who took part, 25% said they saw motorists texting while driving every day, while 30% said they witnessed this driver malpractice on a regular basis.

More than 83% saw motorists driving holding a mobile phone.

“It is worrying to think that people are still taking risks despite the fact that everyone with an ounce of sense knows the dangers,” said AA Ireland director of Consumer Affairs, Conor Faughnan.