Standpoint

Texting While Driving = Accident + Death

One rush morning and on my way to work, I decided to take a FX taxi service. Good thing that there is no heavy traffic that time.

But some drivers apparently do not understand or keep on disregarding how risky they are doing—TEXTING WHILE DRIVING.

We are on a highway, yet, he’s busy texting and answering calls every now and then.

They haven’t learned their lessons. According to independent studies, almost 16,000 cellphone-related accidents were recorded worldwide in 2010.

Also, Philippines Global Road Safety Partnership and the Philippine National Police (PNP) noted that accidents caused by the use of mobile phones rose 601 percent to 491 in 2009 from 70 cases in 2008.

There are already proposed laws filed seeking to ban the use of mobile gadgets while driving. But, it just remain sleeping in the archives of Congress.

Some countries already implemented the prohibition of texting while driving, unless the driver uses hands-free kit. Among them are Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Botswana, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India – New Delhi, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, UK, and Zimbabwe.

Here are some interesting researchers on why texting while driving is too dangerous….

* A 2009 study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute researchers found that collisions are 20 times greater when drivers were texting while driving. The study found that texting takes a driver’s eyes off the road for 4.6 seconds, long enough to blindly travel the length of a football field at 55 mph.

* In a 2008 study conducted by the Clemson University Psychology Department, researchers found that text messaging while driving is more dangerous than talking on the phone. Using a simulated test, they found motorists who are texting and using iPods while driving leave their lanes at least 10 percent more often than other drivers. Texting while driving is now categorized as a national hazard.

* Having a cell phone pressed to your ear while behind the wheel is equivalent of driving while intoxicated. This is according to a study by University of Utah psychologists. The study found that drivers talking on cell phones, either handheld or hands-free, are more likely to crash because they are distracted by conversation.

* Researchers found that the drivers on cell phones drove more slowly, braked more slowly and were more likely to crash.

Now, would you dare to use mobile phone while driving?

2 Comments

  • Gene

    Mga pasaway talaga! I once saw a motorcycle driver texting while driving in EDSA with one hand! Tsk! I’m not really sure if they are just plain stupid or they are tempting their fate.

  • c5 @ battlingasthma.info

    hay naku, ang daming ganyang pasaway. di mo kinunan yung plate number? usually meron yan sa gilid-gilid diba? sinabihan mo ba? di bale sana kung sila lang affected pag bumangga sila, kaso hindi eh. aside from the other people na makakabangga, pati traffic bumibigat!

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