Sending Texts Whilst Behind The Wheel Worse Than Drink Driving
Reaction times whilst texting are shown to be 35% slower compared with 12% whilst at the legal limit for alcohol or 21% when influenced by Cannabis making it the most dangerous of the three.
The only thing considered more dangerous was talking on a mobile phone and as with talking on the phone texting was seen to affect things like judging distances and steering the car.
This research was carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory, their spokeman said: 'The combination of increased mental workload required to write a text message, the control impairment caused by the physical act of holding the phone, and the visual impairment caused by continually shifting visual orientation between the phone display and the road ahead resulted in significantly impaired ability to maintain safe road position.' The assessment was carried out in a simulator using drivers between the ages of 17 & 24.
Prof Stephen Glaister who is the RAC Foundation director said, 'No responsible motorist would drink and drive, we need to ensure that text devotees understand that texting is one of the most hazardous things that can be done while in charge of a car.'
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