While we all know that distracted driving has become a major problem in the United States, the actual toll that risky behaviors like texting and driving is having out there can be difficult to appreciate.

How common is texting while driving?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, roughly 421,000 people were injured and 3,360 lost their lives in distracted driving accidents in 2012. Although distracted driving fatalities actually declined slightly compared to the previous year, injuries caused by distracted driving rose by about 9 percent.

How dangerous is texting while driving?

While there are plenty of helpful facts on texting and driving that Tampa drivers should know, the most important thing to understand is just how dangerous this behavior really is.

The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute breaks this down with some numbers that should make everyone realize just how dangerous texting while driving. It takes an average person about 4.6 seconds to read or send an average text.

That’s more than enough time for a serious tragedy to occur. If you’re driving at 55 mph, your
vehicle will travel the length of an entire football field while you’re distracted with your text. If something unexpected happens during that period, there’s a good chance that you won’t have enough time to respond appropriately and avoid an accident.

Texting while driving vs drunk driving

In fact, texting while driving is so dangerous that many are beginning to believe that it may be even more dangerous than drunk driving.

Car and Driver Magazine conducted a study that showed distracted drivers who were texting while driving performed worse in a variety of areas in a controlled safety test compared to drivers who had been drinking. Others have claimed that drunk driving increase your risk of an accident by four times, while drivers who text while driving are as much as 23 times more likely to crash.

If you’ve become a victim of the distracted driving, it might be time to speak with a Tampa personal injury lawyer. Call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

A moment of inattention behind the wheel can lead to a Tampa car accident that results in serious injuries and considerable expenses. Call Abrahamson & Uiterwyk today at 1-800-538-4878 to discuss your options with our injury law team.