Examining the Risks Involved with Texting While Driving

Texting has long been incorporated into the everyday lives of people both in Pottsville and throughout the rest of the U.S. In fact, according to Department of Transportation’s website Distraction.gov, research from late 2014 showed that Americans send an average of 169.3 billion text messages each month. With texting becoming such a routine activity, it is little wonder that many have begun to engage in it or use their cellphones for different purposes while performing other tasks. One of these “other” tasks is driving. Yet despite the danger that manipulating a handset while operating a vehicle presents, Distraction.gov estimates that as many 660,000 drivers are doing that very thing at any given moment.

Just how dangerous are those who choose to text while driving? Information compiled by the website TextingandDrivingSafety.com estimates that the minimum amount of time drivers spend reviewing and/or sending texts is 5 seconds. During that time, a vehicle moving at 55 mph will travel the entire length of a football field before its driver turns his or her attention back to the road. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shared by the aforementioned site shows the reaction impairment potential of such a distraction to be the equivalent of one having consumed 4 beers.

One may wonder how he or she can prove that the driver who caused his or her accident may have been texting at the time. The easiest way may be to have an attorney subpoena the driver’s cell phone records to review. Such research may show the exact the time that a text was sent, even if the driver has since gone in and deleted the thread.