We can all agree, drinking and driving is wrong. You’re not only putting yourself in danger but you are putting everyone else around you in the same situation. However, texting and driving is more serious then some make it out to be. In today’s society, drinking and driving is not the sole worry for drivers on the road.
Texting while driving is 6 times more dangerous than driving while intoxicated, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Picture this: the car in front of you is constantly weaving into other lanes of traffic. Because of their impairment they are slamming on the brakes too hard because they are not paying attention to the vehicle braking in front of them. When you pull up next to the vehicle, you look over at that driver and you realize ‘they’re not drunk’. Texting and driving has surpassed the danger of drinking and driving. We don’t want to downplay drinking and driving at all. But we just want to give you an idea of just how dangerous texting and driving is.
Texting and driving takes the driver’s eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds and increases the chances of a crash by 23%. Think about this – if a vehicle is traveling at 55 mph, the average driver doesn’t look at the road for about the length of an entire football field while sending a text message. Pretty scary, huh?
So now what? We’ve compiled a list of ideas to help keep the roads safer:
- Don’t text and drive – No text message is worth the risk.
- Download apps – There are many apps out there that can automatically text people back letting them know you are driving.
If your teenager (under 18) is at fault in an accident because of texting and driving, the liability will ultimately fall in the hands of the parent or guardian. So it is just more than a minor accident, it now can become a lawsuit against you personally. Call Waterbrook Insurance at (352) 394-5577 to see how we can help reduce the risk with the right auto insurance.