3 Reasons Texting is the Worst Form of Distracted Driving

1. 3 Reasons Texting is the Worst Form of Distracted Driving Do you use your smartphone while driving? If so, do you actively engage in texting? Texting is the worst form of distracted driving. It kills people. One of the ugly realities of being accident lawyers is that we have to deal with car and truck accident cases that were completely avoidable had one or more of the parties simply shut their phones off before getting underway. Texting while driving has become an incredibly serious problem in this country. According to AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety statistics, 84% of drivers surveyed in 2014 recognized how dangerous texting while driving is. They found it unacceptable. Yet some 36% of those same drivers admitted to doing it. The End Distracted Driving (EDD) charity says that there are three different kinds of distractions drivers need to be aware of. It turns out that texting involves all three. That’s why it is the worst form of distracted driving. Do you do it? If so, you’re inviting a serious accident that could have you squaring off against experienced accident attorneys like those at the Majors Firm. Here are the three reasons texting is so dangerous: 1. Manual Distraction According to EDD, a manual distraction is one that leads you to remove one or both hands from the wheel. Texting while driving certainly qualifies. Every time you’re typing a text to one of your friends, you are using at least one hand. Some drivers have to use two hands if they are especially poor at texting.

2. If your hands are not on the wheel, how are you steering the car? Steering with your knees is both unsafe and impractical. You’ll never be able to react in time should you need to suddenly turn the car in one direction or the other. By the time you respond it could be too late. 2. Visual Distraction The next form of distraction EDD discusses is visual distraction. This is a distraction that takes your eyes off the road. Unsurprisingly, it takes just a split second for a devastating accident to occur. Just think about how quickly a child can dart out in front of you or a car could pull out of a driveway. The visual distraction of texting is obvious. You have to read the screen in order to figure out what your friend is trying to say. You have to read the screen in order to make sure your response is accurate. All of that takes time. It is time your eyes should be on the road. 3. Cognitive Distraction Last but not least is cognitive distraction. This sort of distraction is one that takes your mind off the task of driving. Once again, texting fits the bill. Texting with family members or friends requires you to think about that conversation instead of paying attention to the task of driving. Just think about when you text under other circumstances. In the middle of a texting conversation it’s difficult to pay attention to the TV. When texting you’re not noticing other people moving around you. You’re not hearing other sounds, seeing other things, etc. Doesn’t it make sense that the same would apply while you’re driving? Look, we are more than happy to represent accident victims who have been injured by other drivers. We believe car accident victims deserve representation so that their rights are protected. But we would be even happier if we had no cases resulting from distracted driving. The fact is that distracted driving – especially texting while driving – is extremely dangerous. Stop doing it before you kill someone.