There are approximately 6,000 traffic deaths and 500,000 injuries caused by distracted drivers every year. Most already know that cell phones and texting divert a driver’s attention away from the road for five or more seconds, and that drivers under 20 represent the population with the highest percentage of distracted drivers.
According to studies, texting while driving poses a “triple whammy” of distractions. Texting while driving creates a visual distraction because a driver’s eyes are taken from the roadway to look at the handheld device. Texting while driving creates a manual distraction because one or both hands are necessary to hold and utilize the device. Texting also creates a cognitive distraction because a driver’s mind is focused on reading and then processing a response to the text. All of these things distract a motorist from the primary task of safely driving. For more information visit PurchaseGeorge.com.
This winter, with snow swirling and more time and distance required to stop on slick roadways, we encourage you to put the phone down when driving. As we have said in our public service announcements over the years, whatever you want to text or email while driving, “It can wait.”