Study: 1 In 3 Americans Text And Drive

[truedelphi]

90. research suggests you stop your behaviors while you are still ahead.

October 6th 2011
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20116742-10391704.html

"Our findings suggest that response times are even slower than what we originally thought,"
said Christine Yager, the researcher who managed the Texas Transportation Institute study.
"Texting while driving basically doubles a driver's reaction time and makes the driver less
able to respond to sudden roadway dangers, if a vehicle were to make a sudden stop in front
of them or if a child was to run across the road."

Reaction times slowed from one to two seconds in the absence of texting to three to four
seconds while texting. To put the findings in context, Yager said drivers going 30 mph
travel 220 feet in five seconds. At 60 mph, a driver covers 440 feet in five seconds, she
said.

The study also found texting impaired the ability of drivers to maintain proper lane
position and a constant speed. "If you're on a freeway where the speed limit is 60 in rush hour and a vehicle suddenly stops in front of you, that's not enough time to react if your eyes are glanced down at your phone," Yager said.

Is it safer to read a text than to compose one? The study found little difference in
response times between the activities.

####

It is totally baffling to me that anyone has the arrogance to do these activities. And what in the world is so crucially important that you have to be indulging your addiction while driving? Of course, many people get away with doing these activities until the moment comes along when they don't:

Train engineer sent out over a dozen text messages the day he caused the crash that killed 25 people

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3521534

I am sure this fellow had your same attitude. He was quite skilled at multi-tasking, until one moment when he overplayed that particular ability.