Statistics continually emphasize the dangers of texting while driving, but people continue to do it.
It’s not a new topic and it isn’t even that controversial; yet no matter how many times texting behind the wheel is discussed, the problem never seems to go away. If asked, a majority of people will agree that texting while driving is dangerous and a big problem on the road: but even these individuals may check their phones while on the road.
The statistics are staggering. According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute there the risk of an accident is 23 times higher when the driver is texting. And 40 percent of respondents to a Pew Poll admitted that they had been in the vehicle with a driver who operated their phone leading to unsafe behavior. Even with this solid evidence, and news articles of people injured or killed as the result of texting behind the wheel, there is still a long ways to go for safer roads.
This research team put together an experiment to witness the dangers of texting while driving firsthand.
Perhaps the reason texting and driving is such a big deal still is due to the “it could never happen to me” mentality. While statistics and stories about other people may gain attention and headlines, the most convincing way to make distractions behind the wheel cease is a hands-on experiment.
This research team set out to test the driving skills of young people who were given statements to text: all while operating a vehicle on a closed course. Although it would be easy to conclude that the results were terrible driving and squirmish moments for viewers, the study is still shocking and contains several nail-biting sequences.
Is your young adult texting while driving?
After watching the video, it may be easy to see why parents can be so concerned about their young adults driving. Although texting while driving isn’t an issue only facing young people, they remain the highest demographic involved in accidents and deadly crashes. Drivers in their 20s make up 27 percent of drivers in fatal accidents (NHTSA). So how can parents keep their children safe?
One of the most vital skills in safe driving is responsibility and being able to focus on the road. Teaching young adults responsibility behind the wheel and to respect the vehicle and others on the road may be the best way to lower distracted driving incidents. Programs like At The Crossroads are designed to teach young adults how to handle responsibility and make choices that promote their safety. Whether it is on or off the road, helping young adults learn how to take accountability for their decisions behind the wheel can go a long ways to creating safer roads for all of us
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