The majority of people already understand that texting and driving presents a serious risk to someone behind the wheel, their passengers and others who are on the road. This is true for any state, including Missouri. While Missouri has enacted some laws against texting and driving while behind the wheel, many don’t think it is enough to end the problem.
The actions taking against distracted driving should not only apply to texting and driving, as there are several other forms of distraction, one of which that has been recently proven to be (potentially) more risky than texting.
Talking is More Risky than Texting
According to a recent study conducted by the National Safety Council, NSC, talking on your cell phone while driving may cause just as many (or more) auto accidents as texting.
Today, approximately 93 percent of all people in the United States have some type of cell phone. A large number of these phone owners actively talk on their devices while they are driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), at any given time, approximately nine percent of all drivers on the road are engaging in a phone conversation. These are the drivers that are up to four times more likely to cause a collision. This is true even if the driver has opted to use a hands-free device, which is quite shocking to some.
Why are Phone Conversations so Dangerous?
Researchers who conducted the studies conclude that the risk increased because when you are having a conversation that is not related to driving, it forces your brain to multitask. As you are thinking about two things at the same time – your conversation and driving – your ability to react quickly is reduced. In fact, if an emergency situation occurs while you are driving and talking on the phone, it is going to take you longer to respond, increasing the likelihood of an accident. In fact, one study showed that drivers were 37 percent less likely to respond quickly to emergency situations if they were having a conversation, regardless of if the device was hands free.
If you are going to get behind the wheel, be smart. Avoid using your phone in any capacity until you have reached your destination. If you are involved in an accident with someone who was on their phone, then hire a personal injury attorney to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Unfortunately, accidents related to distracted driving are on a steady upward trend all across the country, which means you have to remain more diligent than ever before to avoid being hit or injured.
