Study: Texting while driving increases crash risk 23-fold

It isn't exactly breaking news that texting while driving is a bad idea. But a study released Monday night reveals just how dangerous it really can be.

After examining the behavior of truck drivers covering more than 6 million miles of road, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute concluded that people who send text messages while driving are 23 times more likely to be in a crash (or what they call a near-crash event) than nondistracted drivers.

To conduct the study, researchers mounted cameras inside drivers' vehicles. They studied where drivers' eyes were looking as they did various things, such as texting, dialing a cell phone, talking on a phone, and reaching for an object. Not surprisingly, the numbers (PDF) showed that the tasks that took people's eyes off the road caused the greatest amount of danger.

In crashes or near-crashes, texting took a driver's focus away from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds--enough time, the report point out, to travel the length of a football field at 55 mph.

By contrast, talking on a cell phone, which allows drivers to keep their eyes on the road, represented an increased risk of only 1.3 times that of a nondistracted driver.

The study's authors called into question past research that indicated driving while talking on a cell phone is as dangerous as driving drunk. While those results may have been found in lab tests and driving simulations, they say, the same was not true in real-world situations. They also noted that, contrary to popular belief, talking on a cell phone with a wireless headset is not substantially safer than talking on a regular handset. This is because the most significant factor as far as safety is concerned is to keep one's eyes on the road, the report said.

The institute says any task that takes a driver's eyes off the road should be avoided and suggests that all cell phone activity should be banned for newly licensed teenagers because they're more prone to using their phones.

(Note: For more details, The New York Times has a breakdown of the study's methodology.)

[cvaldes1831]

The worst thing is that I can't stop others from texting/talking on their phones. Heck, here in California, we passed a "no handheld phone" law and people ignore it like crazy. I don't want to die at the hand of one of these maniacs.

So sad.

[Netzach]

Don't worry. It's isn't that one hand is taken by the phone that is the problem it is that the persons attention is diverted from the traffic. So headsets are just as bad.

[akuma_619]

Come on you can't accept one study as absolute fact. You have to question their method. Were drivers using t9. Of all the people in the crash how many were involved in a crash. That would be more of a true figure of the risk.

[cnote1287]

Yeah you have to have all of the factors be the same in every test. For example, I sometimes (not always) text while driving....and while some say how dangerous it is because im not watching the road.....i use T9 and cant dish out a 160 character text with T9 w/o looking and have less than 10 errors..... usually i just send texts with minimum double checking on spelling. Is it AS safe as not texting? well no nothing beats 100% concentration....but is this method im using going to increase my chance of accident 23 times? most likely not.

[ballmerisanape]

No study touts its results as "absolute fact". Science does not work that way. As with any study.. the results try to represent the general population with outliers on each side (some people have close to 100% probability and some have close to 0%.

Read:
http://www.fourmilab.ch/rpkp/experiments/statistics.html

You may be close to 0%... but most people (vast majority) are not.... they are in the middle somewhere.

Also.. it takes a teeny tiny bit of common sense to realized that if you are texting.. your reaction-time is going to pay.. at the very least.. even if you see the person in front of you slam on their brakes.. you are not holding the steering wheel appropriately. If you have to swerve for some reason.. your probably going to end up in the middle of that bar graph ;)

[ckh1272]

@cnote1287--I personally don't care what method of texting someone (t9 or otherwise). Texting while driving is one of the most moronic things ANYONE can do while driving. Regardless of where you may fall on a graph, you are only fooling yourself if you think somehow you are less of a risk than anyone else. Those kind of statements are really just a way of justifying your texting behaviors. Safe texting?? Not while driving and it doesn't take a "scientific" experiment to figure that out. People are just in too big of a hurry. My only question is, that if two separate cars are texting and they collide into each other, is it a "no fault" or a "double fault" accident?? Think about it for a minute before you think texting while driving is a smart thing to do.

[gwailo247]

I love the "I'm the exception to the rule" comments.
Good luck on the road guys as the forces of probability bear down on you...

[shanedr]

Some people won't believe anything that runs counter to what they want to do. Even when common sense says they're wrong

[Eddie-c]

I've seriously thought about changing careers, just to become a traffic cop and ticket everyone of the ignorant, arrogant morons here in south silicon valley that I see blatantly ignoring the no texting/talking law. And the fine should be a simple $1000 or point in your license! (And if you think that's harsh then try doing it in England .... **3** points on your license. BAM!)

[screamapillar]

It is unfortunate that the arrogance displayed by cnote (and to a lesser degree akuma) who think that just by using a T9 they are suddenly mitigating the risk of collision.

No, you see, if you acknowledged texting while driving a tonne of steel/aluminium was dangerous regardless, that would be one thing. But the fact that you think using a different handset mitigates the risk will actually result in your behaviours being even more risky as you believe you're in less danger.

The reality is, if you believe what you are doing is safe (or safer) you'll do it and thus endanger the rest of us.

[gerrrg]

I've tried it a couple of times to see what it was like, and found it impossible. Instead, I stuck with simply waiting until I'm stopped at a stoplight. This isn't a problem if you're stuck in the middle of going-home traffic hour.

Even if you do as older people do - keep your cell phone up in front of the windshield - you still lose eye contact with the road in front of you, and you completely ignore the rear and side mirrors for a prolonged period of time.

[cnote1287]

haha yeah. i text way too much prolly. so much that i know some of the order that my T9 words are in when i have to press "next word"......:( lol

[Dalkorian]

Cnote, I really hope you get your license taken away. You should not be on the road, period. You are a danger to everyone around you.

[tinlizziedl]

I have sent a grand total of 2 text messages, both while playing with a new phone (not driving). I have answered my phone twice (10 seconds or less) while driving (expecting return emergent call), and have never placed a call while driving.

Crackberries and other ball n'chain devices should have an auto-off function that cannot be disabled. Restuarants, theaters, libraries, churches, and vehicles should have a faraday cage built in.

No one's life is worth your text message. Pray you never face the next of kin at a funeral, having to tell them you killed their loved one because you had to text while driving. They should make the criminal charge murder in the second degree. Or dramatically beef up the negligent homicide laws.

This is another case of law and jurisprudence (& common sense) failing to catch up to technological innovation.

[ckh1272]

I normally don't like going overboard with certain laws but I have to agree. For MOST people, texting while driving is equivalent to drunk driving. There are plenty of studies on this and people really need to open there eyes because I am not the person you want to deal with if I or any of my loved ones are involved in a wreck with texting driver. Bank on it!!

http://www.livescience.com/health/090504-texting-driving.html

[Stefaninafla]

What's sad is that law & jurisprudence has to catch up with technology. It seems common sense is no longer taught to children by their parents.
Personally, I think driving test requirements ought to be far stricter than they are. A person should be required to prove they know all driving rules & regulations, and that they are safe on the road before getting an unrestricted license.

[STARWOBBLE]

@ tinlizzied

A Faraday cage built into the car? Really? What about the passengers? They can safely text.

I totally agree with banning "crackberries" in churches. There few things more dangerous than texting during *gasp* CHURCH.

[screamapillar]

Unfortunately the law has kept up with this - most statutes relating to roads have generalised sections relating to 'impairment of capacity' and 'reasonable attention' etc etc. They all have sections that (and I"m paraphrasing as they all say it differently) 'drive to AVOID an accident' - that doesn't mean impair your concentration to increase the risk of one.

Texting while driving is the same stupidity as someone who gets in a car and drives despite being on medication that says 'do not operate heavy machinery' - and they go, but i was just driving to the shop - the answer: um, a car is a pretty damn heavy machine idiiot.

The laws are there, it is the interpretation that is suffering. While we continue to insist the law be specific on such things endangers the laws from always being in catch up mode. They were written to deal with any distraction in a car.

[cdtphilpot]

I text while driving and regularly talk on the phone for business, and I have never been in a wreck and I'm 26 years old. So one study doesn't convince me. I remember the studies that came out and said eggs are bad for you, then they came out and said no eggs are a good food.

This is ridiculous we already have way too much government involved in our everyday lives, stay out of my car big brother!

[dougismario]

Unfortunately you seem like the person who will only convinced by first hand experience. Just cause you haven't been in a crash up till now doesn't mean you will never get into one.

[krenick]

Agreed with the last part ... but the first part is nonsense. There's no need for such a study in the first place, it's no rocket science, the study is only saying how dangerous it is. Can you drive blindfolded? The moment you risk MY life I call it assault. And you should be charged.

[CDubber]

I hope you end up killing yourself and no one else when you eventually crash (which you will). Your recklessness is not appreciated by the rest of us who are forced to share the road with you. Moron. Keep your idiocy within the confines of your own home.

Texting while driving is criminal stupidity - it should be a felony.

[ckh1272]

@cdtphilpot--Comparing texting studies with egg studies is just further proof why those of you justifying your behaviors are on borrowed time. Your excuses sound like the ones drunk drivers give. "I have been drinking and driving for twenty years and never had a wreck" (I am sure everyone knows that type) and then BAM!! While we're at it, if you don't like "big brother", then don't carry insurance on your car, drive at night with your headlights off, and keep on texting while you're driving. After all, if there is no line, how will you know when you have crossed it?

[martin1212]

@cdtphilpot - how stupid can you be? I suppose you think drunk driving is ok too if someone tells you they do it and has never been in a wreck? If you take yourself out of the gene pool by your stupidity it would be a fitting end. I just hope that you don't take somebody else with you. And note this is not just one study, there have been many studies showing the same thing. It hardly needs a study though, it is so blindingly obvious to most people.

[pcampagna]

you are an idiot. Plain and simple. If ANYONE thinks that texting while driving isn't a bad idea. They are idiots too.

I figure survival of the fittest, if you're stupid enough to text while in control of a 3000lb weapon, then when you crash, i hope you don't hurt any innocent people. I don't feel bad about you. God's way of getting rid of the idiots.

[screamapillar]

cdtphilpot - you are exploiting a legitimate concern (too much government intervention) to argue a case that is more about a condition of driving that has ALWAYS existed - way before you got your precious phone. In a car, that is a heavy machine more than capable of killing a human being, you must always place your priority first on driving safely. Give your full consideration to the road. Not some, not just the spare left over bit after you've had your chat. No. This is not big government. This is basic machine safety. If you were in a factory using heavy machines you wouldn't be debating this. You'd all know someone who'd lost a finger from a slip in concentration.

There is a level of civil responsibility that is being ignored here. People are openly flaunting these laws and regulations despite agreeing to abide by them as a condition of their license. As a community/socieity we all agreed that drivers would be licensed and these are the conditions. We saw it is being in all our best interest.

Then someone comes along and decides it is 'inconvenient' and exploits the system. They exploit goodwill. They exploit some of the legitimate cases of 'big brother' out there to suit their own personal agenda. It isn't violating your civil liberties to forbid you from texting while driving - but it is sure as hell violating my right to be able to be confident all drivers are concentrating (a fair assumption to make as it is a condition of driving) when you are texting and swerve into me.

Seriously, don't you think there is enough to do in a car already? Are you so arrogant that you honestly believe what you've said?

[drogoh]

Doing something other than driving while driving increases crash risk? Really? Who'd a thunk it. C'mon, people, this ain't rocket surgery. Every driving class, book, guide, what have you says that you shouldn't concentrate on anything but driving when behind the wheel. This should have been considered a study on the obvious, rather than a study on driving and using a phone.

[CylonCheese]

If you have to get a message to someone, just call and actually SPEAK with them! At least talking on the phone is the lesser of two evils. NO TEXTING WHILE DRIVING !

[kbo77]

It's not the technology or any particular distraction that is the problem. Many people who drive just do not take driving seriously. They put on make-up, eat, use phones, etc. so I don't like when studies like this target one specific thing.

I sometimes text while driving but make sure to do it when I'm not close to other vehicles or where I may have to stop quickly. I also make use of my peripheral vision and don't stay focused on my phone for more than a second or two at a time. And I have an almost perfect driving record (1 speeding ticket) and have avoided many accidents that others would have caused. Now, everyone's not like me. Everyone is different. But I don't think texting or talking on a phone is what makes someone a bad driver.. their ability to do that and still have an awareness of the road and their ability to judge whether they have a good awareness of the road are what matters.

We can try to outlaw cell phones, etc. while driving but when we can't even get people to go the speed limit I wonder how well any new law is going to work. What we really need is a driver rating system (something simple so as not to distract us from driving of course) so we can tag other drivers that are not paying attention, driving recklessly, etc. or even tag good drivers that avoid an accident, are courteous, or whatever. If people are constantly afraid of getting a bad rating (and therefore raised insurance rates) maybe then they'll drive better.

Oh, and let me also say that I think more driver education would also be very helpful. I don't think a lot of people realize how dangerous driving is, how quickly something can go wrong if they're not paying attention, or even why you should always stop at a stop sign.

[Norseman]

Truth is--texting is an addiction. If you have to get a fix while driving, you put others (and yourself) at risk. There is no such thing as a "careful" junkie. You're just kidding yourself.

[ckh1272]

@kbo77--Further justifying a stupid behavior (I make sure I am not near any cars). Ignorance to the obvious is truly not bliss.

[martin1212]

@kbo77, you obviously think highly of yourself in spite of your dangerous bdriving habits. I assume you know that 95% of drivers consider themselves better than average, and some of the worst consider themselves the best, convinced that their superior skills make up for their more reckless habits. They are just kidding themselves, and it sounds very much like you fall straight into this category. If there was a driver rating system and you were seen texting, you would be marked down pretty quickly, as most people can see how stupid your behavior is. If you keep on with it, you'll pay for it in the end. Just because you haven't had a crash yet doesn't mean you will elude the laws of probability forever.

[omnichad]

You really hit a strong point. Whatever you do while driving that isn't driving can't take your focus. Once you get that priority hardwired into your brain, you're mostly safe.

Whenever people in the car talk to me or I'm on the phone, I sometimes "space out" because something on the road took priority. My brain just shuts down at listening to words, while I focus on the road. It takes me a full minute to dial a call if I have to dial manually, because I only glance at the phone while looking at the road.

[markdoiron]

The study seems to suggest that any differences between their real-world results and those of simulator tests is due to faults in the simulator testing scenarios. I've seen enough with my own eyes to know that people talking on the cell phone do not have their brain properly engaged with driving. Failing to use turn signals in critical situations, stopping for a light that just changed to green, staying stopped at a light that's changed to green, meandering back and forth across lanes, almost hitting a vehicle stopping in front of them, driving excessively slowly, etc. are all things I see routinely from people talking on their phones. Yet, the study concentrates on eye movement as if having the eyes in front is all it takes to avoid an accident. If this were the case, then drunk driving wouldn't be such a big problem, would it? --mark d.

[T_Tran]

I am in the process of becoming a CHP ("California Highway Patrol" for people out of state) Officer. During my ride along, we pulled over 3 people who were using their cell phones within a 15 minute window. The CHP officer pulled one person over at an intersection for talking on their cell phone. After writing a ticket and pulling out, another driver drives right in front of us and was using his cell phone. After giving that guy a ticket, we pulled out again, and another driver drives right by using their cell phone!

My ride along officer said, "You see, you don't have to go look for these people, because they'll drive right next to you and use their cell phones." People in California do not appear to care for the law that was passed regarding "hands free" devices.

[rivera973]

I'm sick of hearing about cell phones, texting and driving. No one wants to blame the driver. A bad driver using a cell phone, texting, putting on makeup, looking at the passenger to talk, and so on is a bad driver while NOT doing any of the preceding. What they are doing does not matter because they are bad drivers not matter what they are doing.

These idiots are the one speeding and weaving in and out fo traffic (no one else knows how to drive and are too slow!) whether they are texting or not.

The problem is the bad driver. Do you want to stop many "accidents" by texting and non-texting drivers? Have the police fairly ENFORCE the current laws. Give idiots big fat tickets for weaving in an out of traffic, tailgateing, speeding and of course any other reckless driving style. They will be to worried about the cops to text.

[Eddie-c]

That's part of the problem - the penalties are a joke. $100 for yakking/texting which in turn makes the driver a dangerous one. How about up the penalty *big-time* and/or add point penalties - that CAN'T come off for taking driving school, or simply prosecute in charge as public endangerment. I believe that has a pretty stiff penalty in itself.

[rivera973]

I'm sick of hearing about cell phones, texting and driving. No one wants to blame the driver. A bad driver using a cell phone, texting, putting on makeup, looking at the passenger to talk, and so on is a bad driver while NOT doing any of the preceding. What they are doing does not matter because they are bad drivers not matter what they are doing.

These idiots are the one speeding and weaving in and out fo traffic (no one else knows how to drive and are too slow!) whether they are texting or not.

The problem is the bad driver. Do you want to stop many "accidents" by texting and non-texting drivers? Have the police fairly ENFORCE the current laws. Give idiots big fat tickets for weaving in an out of traffic, tailgateing, speeding and of course any other reckless driving style. They will be to worried about the cops to text.

[chris_d]

What do you mean no one wants to blame the driver? I thought we WERE blaming the driver for engaging in these behaviors while operating a vehicle!

Are you saying that it's ok for "good" drivers (I assume you are including yourself in that category) to engage in these behaviors, but not "bad" drivers? If you mess with your handset while driving, I would say that makes you a bad driver.

[dougismario]

For about a couple months after my first cell phone I swore I would not text and drive (although I don't see a problem with being stopped and texting). The first time I decided to break my own rule a deer jumped out in front of me in broad day light (Living in Pennsylvania has these moments). Fortunately I missed the deer and took this moment as a sort of harbinger of some sort. So from first hand experience I understand the ramifications of texting while driving. There is no way to predict an occurence like mine. No amount of skill will be able to save you in a second where your eyes are focused elsewhere.

[Garken]

That study is flawed ! I have been alnmost run over, had my car hit and been cut off far too many times by people talking on cell phones to believe in anything else but a total ban on them while driving.Heaven only knows what might have happend if these people were texting !

[pcampagna]

Im an excellent driver. I also had a number of accidents. Why do i think i'm an excellent driver then? Well cause I know what happens when you act stupidly behind the wheel and I know if you are not paying 100% attention to what you are doing and what everyone around you is doing, then you will eventually pay for it. ( in know run-on sentence)

I was young and thought "It will never happen to me", but it did happen to me and i still thought "it was just a fluke, it won't happen again." guess what, It did happen again. I didn't wise up till i almost killed someone else. THEN, and only then, did i realize, "Hey, i could disrupt someone else's lives with my stupidity and I couldn't live with myself it i did. "

If for one second, anyone thinks doing anything except paying attention while driving is safe, you are fooling yourself. Texting is about the stupidest thing to do while in a moving vehicle. Period. I and I hope no one else needs to be told by a study, that it is dangerous.

If they did a study that touching fire would burn you, would you all of a sudden say, "Yeah i guess I shouldn't touch fire then..." ?? no, it's common sense.

[Vegaman_Dan]

I don't find any problem with texting while driving. It's perfectly sa-........

Okay, pardon me while I text the police to report that I apparently have rear ended a minivan.

[kevinskrause]

What could possibly be sooo important that idiots like you feel compelled to text or talk on the phone while driving? If it?s an emergency, pull over. If it?s business related, wait till you get to the office; the work will still be there. I may be the last of a dying breed, but I actually enjoy driving with a passion; it calms me. Put down the windows, turn up the tunes, and just ride people. If texting with friends, family, and colleagues is still necessary then maybe you should consider public transportation.

[Michichael]

To be honest, I text while I drive. I use a G1 and type by touch. My eyes never leave the road until I get a new message, which I can read the entirety of while checking from left mirror to right mirror.

I agree texting and driving is dangerous, if you don't know what you're doing.

[pcampagna]

@ Michichael - IF you don't know what you're doing.... lol

That's stupid.

[kevinskrause]

Life's tough........ it's even tougher if you're stupid..

[screamapillar]

Again, I am surprised by the arrogance of some people.

Do you really think you are that important that the increased risk from you doing some other task (it matters not what the other task is, whether it be texting or not) is so obviously to you worth it?

Why do so many people think that their need to send something as insignificant as a text message, is more important that EVERYONE else's safety on the road? Because when you take that risk, regardless of how confident you are about it, you endanger me.

I'm sure you would agree I should have a choice in which risks I partake in where possible. Driving is one of those. You see, I live in a democratic country with officials elected by a majority of the people who determine laws. In addition, for the case of driving, you would agree that all drivers must have a valid license I'm sure (to be in your special category of people who know what they are doing). Ok so, at this point, to have got a license not only do we have laws of the road put in place via a democratic process, you have also agree to abide by them as a condition of holding said license.

So Michichael, not only are you a law breaker by texting, but a cheat and a liar. You agreed to follow the rules as a condition of your license. You aren't.

[kevsmail]

In other news, grass is green and the sky is blue.

I don't care if these cell-phone yapping/texting IDIOTS kill themselves in an accident, but it's the fact that they will undoubtedly hurt or kill some other innocent driver/pedestrian/bicyclist who is minding their own business that enrages me. It's all about selfishness and feeling their need to talk/text is superior to the safety of everyone around them. A shame that some of the commenters here can't even realize that about themselves and their behavior.

Whenever I see someone driving badly, I'd say 9 times out of 10, you can see they're holding the handset to their melon yapping obliviously, or if you pass them to get around the hazard, you'll see them looking in their lap undoubtedly texting away... As a bicyclist and a motorcyclist, I've almost been hit or run off the road a dozen times in the last 2 years by these fools!

[maxthedork]

The people who say "texting never affected MY driving" sound like the same morons who say "I drive BETTER when I'm drunk because I'm more careful!"