Each year, almost a half million people are killed or injured in traffic accidents attributed to texting and driving. As technology continues to advance, the dangers of mobile devices serving as driving distractions increase. Texting and driving increase the chances of an accident by twenty-three times. A driver takes his or her eyes off of the road for an average of five full seconds when sending or receiving a text message; this is more than enough time for an accident to occur.
Texting and Driving on the Rise
Distracted driving accounts for nine deaths every day, as reported by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). In 2018, as the population continues to increase and the number of mobile phones on the roads is at an all-time high, drivers must make driving safety a top priority. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), two out of three teens confess to using mobile apps while driving; 27% admit to texting and driving. To highlight exactly how prevalent the issue of texting and driving is across all age groups, some related statistics are listed below.
- At least 6 million crashes each year involve drivers, of all ages, using cell phones and texting.
- Each year, around 21% of fatal wrecks, involving teens ages 16-19 were caused by cell phone usage. This figure is forecasted to grow 4% each year.
- Even though 97% of teens agree that texting or email messaging while driving is dangerous, around 43% of them still do it.
- Approximately 19% of drivers of all ages browse the web while driving.
- Nearly one-third of adult drivers (ages 18-64) admit to actively sending texts and email messages while driving.
The reality is that all age groups, especially younger drivers, can benefit from a road safety refresher. With new technology available for smart devices and countless systems built-in to newer model vehicles, the distractions are plenty. Eliminating the distractions and focusing on the task at hand is the only true way to solve the problem.
Accident Prevention Apps
Lucky for us in this technologically savvy age, there are apps and features available on smartphones and within vehicles today that promote accident prevention and reduce driver distractions. Downloading a safe driving app is just one solution for distracted driving. The following apps are approved by the DMV for reducing driver distractions:
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LifeSaver App
- Uses GPS monitoring and rewards system to help drivers break distracted driving habits.
- Blocks the ability to use your phone while driving and lets loved ones know once you've arrived safely at your destination.
- Features a Driver Portal dashboard for parents to help teens learn responsible driving habits.
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AT&T DriveMode App
- Available for both iOS® and Android, this app reduces distractions for drivers by blocking all phone functions (text, call, web) while driving.
- DriveMode can be set up to start when the driver is accelerating over 15 MPH.
- This app can notify parents when their teen driver has the app deactivated or if settings have been changed.
- The app is easy to set up, runs smoothly, and is exceptionally user-friendly.
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TrueMotion Family App
- Currently free on both iOS® and Android platforms, this app uses a rating scale for your overall drive and pinpoints exact moments where the driver may have been driving distracted.
- Compares driving scores and shows your family members' location on the road in real time, as well as their trip history.
It is now illegal to text while driving in 43 states and in the District of Columbia (DC). The texting and driving epidemic is on the rise; although there are some texting alternatives available that promote road safety, such as voice recognition and text blocker technology which can facilitate other methods of communication or even disable the text function when the car is operating above certain speeds. These options can be beneficial to parents who may choose to monitor their teen's driving behaviors. Parents, we recommend you ride with your teens frequently to get a feel for their normal driving tendencies. If distracted driving behaviors arise, resolve them before continuing the trip. Road safety is a high priority and should be reinforced for drivers among all age groups. At Glass America, we support driver safety and advise all of our customers to stay off their phones while driving. Your safety is always our utmost concern.