dieseltaylor Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Yes Governments worldwide having pocketed the cash from spectrum sales now discover what any child could have told them twenty years ago. But then money talks very loudly. Data from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) has shown why texting should be made illegal everywhere. According to research that combined data from a number of studies, drivers of heavy vehicles and/or trucks that send text messages while driving are 23.2 times more likely to be involved in a crash or “near-crash event” than non-distracted drivers. That texting while driving is dangerous really shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise considering it involves taking your eyes of the road. The research showed that in crashes or near-crashes, the act of texting actually shifted a driver’s focus away from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. That might not sound like long, but, as the report points out, that’s enough time to travel the length of a football field when travelling at 55 mph. The VTTI also concluded that the acts of reaching for a mobile phone and dialling increase the chances of being involved in a “safety-critical event”, but the risks were significantly lower than texting. Light vehicle/car drivers showed a 2.8 times higher risk of being involved in such an event when dialling and a 1.4 times higher risk when reaching for a phone or other electronic device. Meanwhile a study of heavy vehicle/truck drivers revealed they were 5.9 times more likely to be involved in a crash or near-crash when dialling and 6.9 times more likely when reaching for an electronic device. Interestingly the heavy vehicle/truck drivers showed no increased risk when talking on a mobile phone, while drivers of light vehicles/cars showed only a 1.3 times higher risk. The hypocrisy of getting hot on drinking and driving at the same time as the Govt.s sponsor a technology which is more pervasive and more dangerous. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wicky Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 er in UK it is illegal to hold a 'apple' mobile phone while driving. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/4203375.stm 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwolf Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 It is illegal pretty much everywhere in the Western world except for a few of the those U.S. states that aren't liberal in the American sense (American language for "tax wasting is liberal") but are liberal in the normal sense ("liberal" = avoid making rules whereever you can). 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stalins Organ Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 It ain't illegal here yet...although it will be shortly... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Affentitten Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 A few months ago I was waiting to turn onto the mian road near my place and a guy came past texting. He was riding a motorcycle. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanonier Reichmann Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 It ain't illegal here yet...although it will be shortly... Not enough Morris Minors on the road to warrant it I wouldn't have thought. Regards KR 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stalins Organ Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 I wouldn't have thought. doesnt' surprise me - fortunately I'm happy to do the thinking that you don't 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runyan99 Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Coming soon, Mothers Against Driving and Texting. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Emrys Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 MADT? Michael 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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