The impact behind texting while driving.
For as long as I have been driving it has been illegal to use a phone, unless it is hands free while driving, that includes while stopped in a traffic jam or at a red light – however that doesn’t stop some people and I am sure we have all seen a number of people driving and talking or texting.
But have you ever stopped and thought about what happens while you talk or text? Every wondered how far you could have driven or how much more likely it makes your to be involved in an accident?
UK Claim Lawyers put together this interesting infographic about texting while driving and I have to admit I was quite stunned by some of the information included in it, especially when it comes to how far you travel and just how much it impairs your reaction times.
What about you? Did any of the information contained surprise you? What about the fact at 55mph you have travelled the length of a football pitch in just 5 seconds? Did you know that while legal, talking hands free can be just as dangerous as talking on a hand held on as it is still a distraction?
Of course the most worrying part of it is how much more likely you are to have an accident (23%) and with 22% of all accidents being down to driver distractions, it really is worth making sure you are switched on about driving and not what is going on with your phone.
Just remember even if you just get caught on your phone, you are looking at £100 fine and 3 points on your license (and if you get 6 points in your first 2 years of driving you lose your license and have to start again with learning to drive).
So next time you get in your car – turn your phone off (or put it out of reach) and you might just find your driving a little less distracted.
*Written in collaboration with the aforementioned company.
Scary just how many people I do see using them and weaving all over the road
Surprisingly it’s not just car drivers. I’ve seen a couple of people on mopeds texting while driving. As a motorbike driver, drivers behind the wheel not focused on where they’re going is even more dangerous to me than to them hitting someone in a car. They’ve got a bit more protection than I do.
It’s really not on is it? I get really annoyed if I see people doing it. I either don’t answer the phone or get a passenger to do it.
Oh my gosh, that is scary. I’m going to keep my phone well out reach from now on. x
so bad, now cars are coming with built in wifi so i dont know if it will get any better. it is bad enough that people talk consistently on their phones and dont pay attention to anything, or anyone.
the amount of people I see driving on their phones is crazy. Just one look away can cause so many disasters. I always have my phone firmly in the glove compartment of my car so I’m not tempted or distracted.
The airport transfer driver did this in the uSA and it made me so cross . it is illegal in the USA also
A very fascinating and informative post! Well Done! 🙂
Such an important topic, thank you!
It’s so obvious as to why it is so dangerous, especially texting, and I don’t understand why people do it, I never did, even before it was a driving offence. My phone is always in my bag on the passenger seat, but I can’t hear it above my music and my singing!
This is a subject that makes me so cross – I saw a mother drive into the school gates texting and was still doing it on the way out – so so dangerous
I hate when people drive and text, not only dangerous for themselves but the others as well! Such a irresponsibility!
People on phones in cars drives me nuts and I bet the actual percentages are a lot higher in reality.
I see far too many people using their phones whilst driving. It scares me
I see so many people using their phone while driving, it’s scary. I don’t understand it – people must realise if they are concentrating on the phone in their hand or on their lap, they are not concentrating on driving the huge deadly weapon at their control. A very important topic, I hope everyone who reads this post realises texting or tweeting or checking whatever on their phone while they are driving is a really bad idea.
Thank you for highlighting such an important subject. This really grates on me. Some people just do not think
I’ll admit i’ve done this in the past when I was younger but definitely wouldn’t now that i have kids. it’s so dangerous and to think you’re putting others lives at risk not just your own! Same goes with speaking on the phone too!! x
It’s scary how many people still do talk with their phones up to their ears whilst driving. I’d be livid if I saw anyone texting. It’s just too dangerous and nothing is that important to cause a crash.
Such a fabulous post and something that is so important. I hate to see people driving on their phones and all they’re bothered about is if they get caught and get points on their license when really the harsh reality is someone could lose their life xxx
Wow, interesting information! So many of my friends text and drive, I always say I’ll never do it once I’ve passed my test and I hope I don’t ever get tempted!
Really interesting facts here. Still amazes me that people text when they’re driving. Saw someone doing it only yesterday, we were on the motorway!
See so many people doing this I dont think it will ever go away as its so hard to police.
Wow some very interesting facts there, I hate it when I see people using their phones while driving, makes me mad 🙁
Whenever I see anyone on the phone it winds me right me x
we have had a few run ins with people using their phone, People are so selfish they are not just putting themselves at risk but everyone around them,
I always put my phone in my bag in the boot, then I’m not event tempted to take a peak. It’s so dangerous, even just for a second
It infuriates me to see people using their phones wherever texting or otherwise whilst driving. I think they should increase the fines to put people off this.
I was in a taxi a few weeks back and the driver was texting whilst driving and talking to me at the same time. There is no way he was concentrating on the road. I had to say to him to put the phone down and watch where he was going. I also made a complaint to the taxi company.
zero tolerance
this is one of the things in life that really rattles me i hate seeing drivers being irrisponsible