Despite the warnings and risks associated with using mobile devices while driving, millions of Americans are using their phones in the drivers’ seat at any given moment of the day. Across all age groups, 7 in 10 people still say they text while driving, even though the habit increases the risk of accidents by a whopping 23.2 times!
And now there’s a new trend that’s becoming a fast-growing problem — “webbing”.
State Farm’s annual report on distracted driving shows that nearly half (43%) of young adult drivers between the ages of 18 to 29 admitted to surfing the Web on their smartphones while driving. “To think that half of young adults are webbing, with some frequency, while driving is really shocking,” said State Farm spokesman Gary Stephenson. “It shows that the message about the danger of distracted driving has not been taken seriously on a personal level by a very large number of today’s drivers.
Social media and an increase in the prevalence of smart phones have opened up a new realm of distractions that drivers will need to avoid. The study also showed that 43% of young drivers have checked email while driving and 33% have updated social networks.
Social media and web browsing certainly have their place, but it’s not while operating a vehicle. Mobile use impairs a driver’s reaction as much as having a Blood Alcohol Content level of .08%, and the National Safety Council estimates that using cell phones while driving causes up to:
- 636,000 crashes per year
- 330,000 injuries
- 12,000 major injuries
- 2,600 deaths
- $43 billion in damages
Looking for alternatives? Apps like DriveSafe.ly, which reads texts and emails aloud in real time, or Textecution, which cuts off texting ability if the device is moving faster than 10 MPH, are great options. Or just toss your mobile device in the trunk to eliminate temptation entirely.
Stay safe!