Is Texting While Driving Dangerous?

The other day I was reading this article in the Daily Mail

Mother impaled by pole through her thigh and buttocks after she veered off highway while texting and driving

Now perhaps that incident was a one off situation, but I’m sure at one time or another we’ve’ve all been guilty of texting while driving, the question is how hazardous is it?

A recent study conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M found that even voice-activated text-messaging while driving is dangerous. The study wanted to examine whether hands-free technology is actually safer than traditional texting while driving. The results were surprising.

Although you might expect voice-activated texting to be less distracting than traditional text messaging, the study found that the voice-activated texting while driving method was equally dangerous. According to study director Christine Yager both methods resulted in reaction times that were twice as slow, with eyes less focused on the road often than they should be.

The study used a tracker to detect when drivers on a closed course looked at the roadway, and measured how long it took each driver to complete the texting task set for them. On the course was a stoplight that changed periodically, used to measure reaction times. The drivers were tested on both approaches to texting while driving the traditional and voice-activated texting methods, and on both Android and iOS devices. The study result found that the voice-activated technology didn’t result in any increase in driver safety when compared to regular texting.

Texting while driving distracts drivers

Texting while driving

In the UK, using any hand-held phone or device has been banned behind the wheel since 2003. Getting caught doing so results in a hefty fine of 60 Euros and three penalty points on the driver’s license. In spite of this, nearly 21 percent of respondents to the RAC’s polls on the subject admitted to using their mobile while driving or when waiting at a traffic light. Another 11 percent openly admitted to taking a peek at email and social media or texting while driving while behind the wheel.

This has led to companies desperately trying to develop technologies that will allow drivers to stay connected and communicate while on the road. Both Android and Apple have created voice recognition software solutions to allow drivers to use their phones hands-free, which is legal in the UK and in most US states as well. Unfortunately, this new study based on texting while driving calls into question whether phone communication on the road is safe at all.

Governors Highway Safety Association director Jonathan Adkins says he’s not surprised by the study’s results. Hands-free communication still takes a driver’s attention away from the road, making it a dangerous distraction. According to Christine Yager, drivers in the study were familiar with texting while driving, but felt the need to look away from the road to ensure that the voice recorder was accurately typing their message. This suggests that the voice-activated software still needs some work before drivers feel comfortable enough to use it truly hands-free.

Driving Requires Your Full Attention

At times it may feel like you’re driving on “autopilot,” this feeling can be deceiving. Driving requires your full attention in order to be safe; talking on the phone, texting while driving, and even voice-activated texting all take your attention away from the task of driving safely. When you’re operating a vehicle, your attention should be solely dedicated toward the act of driving.

These recent texting while driving results mimic those conducted by Canadian researchers about the dangers of talking while driving. The bottom line is texting while driving simply pulls attention away from the road and can kill.

To health and vehicle happiness,

Your fearless mechanic

Phil.