Study: texting affects driving as much as drinking

May 01, 2013

With the attention the media has paid recently, the dangers of texting while driving should be well known. According to government statistics, engaging in this activity makes the driver 23 times more likely that he or she will be in a car accident. To add another poignant statistic on the heap, a new study, published in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention found that texting while driving is just as dangerous as driving drunk with a blood alcohol level of twice the legal limit.

In the study, researchers from universities across the nation used driving simulators to compare the effects of drunk driving to texting while driving. Over a two-day period, one group of participants operated the simulators intoxicated with a blood alcohol level over the limit. The other group soberly operated the simulators with a cellphone and a microphone, which simulated a hands-free cellphone conversation. In the simulator, each group had the task of keeping their "vehicle" within its lane while "driving" at a speed of 37 to 50 miles-per-hour.

The group with the cellphones drove well, comparable to someone under the legal limit, when they were having a light conversation while driving. However, once the conversation became more involved, the cellphone group drove substantially worse--comparable to someone with a blood alcohol level at the legal limit. In the last test, the cellphone group used their cellphones to text while driving. As a result, their performance was the worst of all the tests, as they operated their vehicles with about the same skill as someone over the legal limit.

Texting in Ohio

In response to the danger texting poses to their roadways, many states have passed legislation banning the activity. Ohio is among such states. In Ohio it is illegal to write, send or read a text message while operating a motor vehicle. However, in Ohio, texting while driving is a secondary offense, meaning that an officer cannot pull you over for texting alone; he or she must first observe you violating another traffic law before you can be stopped. If convicted, violators of the law face up to a $150 fine.

In addition to the penalties under the texting law, drivers who injure or kill others while texting can also face a civil lawsuit for negligence or wrongful death. Under Ohio law, victims of negligent acts can recover damages such as pain and suffering, medical expenses and wage losses. In many cases, the amount of damages can be substantial.

Despite the law and the known dangers of texting while driving, many drivers will choose not to put down their cellphone, putting other drivers at an unreasonable risk. If you or a loved one have been injured by a negligent driver, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to hold the driver accountable for their actions.

Article provided by Weisman, Kennedy & Berris Co., L.P.A.
Visit us at www.weismanlaw.com