Any driving distraction reduces a person’s ability to concentrate on the main task of driving. And as per a recent study, texting while driving might be the most dangerous distraction of them all. 

According to the Texas Transportation Institute, texting while driving more than doubles a driver’s reaction time.  Over the course of the study, 42 drivers aged from 16 to 54 had to drive on an 11-mile test track while exchanging text messages, and then drove back without having any driving distraction.  At all time, they were asked to stop when they saw a flashing yellow light. The results showed how distracting is texting while driving.

“Our findings suggest that response times are even slower than what we originally thought,” said associate transportation researcher for TTI’s Center for Transportation Safety. “Texting while driving basically doubles a driver’s reaction time and makes the driver less able to respond to sudden roadway dangers, if a vehicle were to make a sudden stop in front of them or if a child was to run across the road.”

Official records demonstrate that driving distractions account for 20 per cent of all fatal crashes, with cell phones being the main distraction.

Source: Edmonton Journal, October 10, 2011

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