Personal Injury Law

Study Shows Driving While Texting More Dangerous than DUI

By Ross Jurewitz

The results of a study conducted by the Automobile Association of America has shown that driving-while texting (DWT) increases the likelihood of being involved in a car accident by a staggering 50 percent. A similar study also showed that DWT was considerably more dangerous than driving while under the influence (DUI).

One of the studies simulated driving with a light turning red on the dashboard to show a car stopping suddenly in front. Results showed that it took longer and required a much greater distance for a DWT driver to stop than a DUI driver. According to this particular scenario, texting is significantly worse than being drunk when operating a motorcycle or motor vehicle.

While the rate of auto accident deaths due to DWTs increases, researchers at the University of Utah have developed a device they named Key2SafeDriving which blocks all cell phones in a car that has its ignition turned on. This program would allow calls to 911 and other special numbers the override the disarming. DWTs is a significant problem not only on freeways and streets, but on train and trolley tracks as well. Recently in Southern California, a commuter train engineer ran a red light while texting and caused a train crash that killed 25 people and injured 130 others.

Full post as published by San Diego Injury Lawyer Blog on July 21, 2009 (boomark / email).