Car insurance study shows texting while driving on the rise
The law prohibits drivers from using their mobile phones whilst behind the wheel. Despite this prohibition, a recent study conducted in the UK reveals that texting while driving is on the increase. 'Drive-texting' increases the risk of an accident and serious injury to the driver, passengers and other motorists, and has been proven to be at least as dangerous as drink driving.
The study shows that drivers who use mobile phones whilst driving are four times more likely to be involved in an accident than their non-mobile using counterparts. Worryingly, this statistic applied regardless of whether drivers were using a handheld phone or hands-free kit.
Accidents are caused by mental distractions and divided attention. A common misconception is that using a hands-free kit significantly reduces the risks associated with talking on a mobile phone while driving, when in truth the actual phone and how it's used is not the cause of these accidents.
Drivers texting while driving, on the other hand, are 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident. When sending a text message, motorists travelling at 55mph could cover the length of an entire football pitch in the space of a few seconds. Combined with not looking at the road while texting, this is a lot more dangerous than making a phone call while behind the wheel.
