Safety Advocates Urge Texting Bans for Drivers in All 50 States
Nearly one in five drivers has read or sent a text message while driving according to recent survey
It seems to be more commonplace to hear news of an accident involving a driver who was distracted by reading or texting while driving.
We found quite an interesting commentary by Andrew Simpson entitled Don’t Let Research Distract From Safe Driving Efforts which cites safety advocates who have urged texting bans for drivers in all 50 states but an insurance industry study questioned whether these state laws are worth enacting.
“The Highway Loss Data Institute study found that claims rates did not go down after the laws were enacted. It also found no change in patterns compared with nearby states without such bans.”
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“One explanation could be an increase in the use of hands-free devices in places with bans on handset use while driving.”
We believe that safe driving includes driving with little or no distractions. Driving requires all of the driver’s attention and each distraction in the car adds yet another layer of risk as further pointed out in this commentary:
“Dr. Amit Almor, a psychology researcher at the University of South Carolina, says language and driving are complex activities that tax the brain in many ways. Almor completed two studies in 2008 and 2009 that looked at the demands on the brain when talking on cell phones while driving. Texting adds another layer of language and motor skills, which Almor warns can make for a lethal combination.”
“Verbal communication is a complex combination of listening, thought generating and talking. Driving involves assessment and decision-making and an array of motor skills,” Almor says. “Talking on a cell phone while driving is distracting and dangerous. Texting is far worse, as it adds another motor skill and keeps the driver in a different mental space for a much longer period of time.” {Read More}
Serenity Insurance reminds its customers to stay safe while driving. This includes not talking on a cell phone or texting while driving.