Communications and Technology Industry Research

Studies continue to bear out the fact that people who use mobile phones while driving, especially to read and send text messages, put themselves and other motorists in danger.

 

Text messaging, or SMS (for “short message service”) is particularly popular among people who fall into the young urbanite demographic. Texting is a quick way to communicate and is becoming more affordable. Combining texting and driving a recipe for trouble, but people continue to do so.

 

According to a recent survey by FindLaw.com, almost half of drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 claim to have sent a text message, instant message or e-mail while driving. Seventeen percent of all adults surveyed admitted to combining these two activites. Perhaps these drivers think that the speed with which they can write a text minimizes the distraction; many people have learned to write a message in mere seconds.

 

Texting while driving is distracting, however — potentially very dangerously so. People who text while driving are much more likely than their un-distracted peers to run red lights, weave in the lane where they’re driving, and cause fatal accidents.

 

Beyond the potential to cause themselves and other drivers bodily harm, people who text while driving risk getting into legal trouble, too.

 

“In the case of a traffic accident, proof that the driver was texting while driving may be used to help prove liability for the accident,” said  Stephanie Rahlfs, an attorney at FindLaw.com, in a statement. “It’s conceivable that a jury could consider texting while driving as negligent or even reckless conduct.”

 

Alaska, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington recently joined the ranks of states with laws banning texting while driving. Thirteen other states in US are reportedly considering similar legislation, FindLaw.com said in its report.