subject: Why It's not Safe to Text While Driving [print this page] A truly responsible driver needs to listen be sensitive about his car. He should detect any noises that may indicate something is wrong with the car. Then he needs to keep track of where he is headed. He should be alert enough to avert potential causes for mishaps that he may detect ahead. He should maintain enough distance between himself and the next car ahead. Furthermore he has to be aware of what is going in the opposite lane (if it is a two-lane road he is traveling on). He also should keep an eye on his free side in case some motorists should try to overtake through that there. Finally he has to be updated about cars that are behind him.
With so many things to attend to, is it any wonder that texting on a phone should not be advisable.
The first reason why texting is dangerous is because he will have to remove one hand at least from the steering wheel. This will reduce the force and speed with which he can manipulate the wheel in case he needs to. Until the day when the technology of translating words to letters is realized for cell phones, texting is a disabling activity for drivers.
Another reason why drivers should not be texting while driving is that their attention will be divided between the words they are texting and the road. In fact research has revealed that people who engage in texting reduce the attention they have for what they are doing by 400 %.
Other studies have revealed that drivers engaged in texting tend to move in and out of their lanes as they withdraw their focus from attending to the steering wheel. They also tend to lag behind and in general lose their coordination with the rest of the cars traveling with them.
The scenario becomes a hundred times worse if by chance you should drop your cell phone to the floor of the car. The time it will take you to stoop down and retrieve the phone may be exactly what it will take for a car to collide with your's head on. Who knows, the other driver may have been texting too.
What if the phone, in dropping, decides to hide snuggly under the car seats. Hopefully you will have the presence to pull over to the side and stop the car before attempting to retrieve the mobile.
This may all sound terribly funny, much like something you would see in comic television shows. But the reality of car accidents is far from amusing. If you are a young mom or dad, think about your kids. If you are just a budding teenager, think about the people you love and who in turn love you. Think about how everyone would feel if something bad were to happen to you.
Make it a point to send all the text messages you need to send even before you enter the car. The same goes for phone calls, For the rest of the time, switch off your cell phone and tuck it out of sight. Focus your attention on the multiple tasks involved in driving. You will have lots more to text about after you have spent so much time concentrating on your surroundings.
