The use of text messaging has increased dramatically over the past few years. Already massively popular in Europe and Asia, North America now seems to be catching up in terms of SMS messages sent per year. But be warned, as a recent study shows that texting while driving is actually more dangerous than driving while under the influence of drink or drugs.

I text people all the time, in fact, I prefer it to actually ringing people because I get to the point I need to get to, and don’t have to make small talk in between the important points. Harsh but true. Luckily for the several million people who live in my part of the UK, I can’t drive, and so one thing I’ll never do is text while I’m motoring along at 60mph.

But, a lot of people do text while driving, and even though it’s illegal in the UK, they flagrantly ignore the warnings and carry on doing so regardless of whether it could lead to them being fined or not. Meanwhile, drink driving levels drop every year, so people are getting the message that driving while under the influence of alcohol is not a great idea.

Now, according to Times Online, a recent study by The Transport Research Laboratory shows that people who text while at the wheel of a vehicle are actually more dangerous to other road users and pedestrians than those who have been getting drunk in the pub all evening.

Those texting while driving were found to have their reaction times deteriorate by around 35%. People driving while at the legal limit of alcohol only lost around 12% reaction time, while those drivers who had recently smoked cannabis were found to be around 21% than an average driver concentrating on the road.

Even worse than this is the finding that those using a mobile phone to read or write a text message were almost guaranteed to veer out of their lane, with steering control 91% poorer than it otherwise would be.

Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, which commissioned the research, said:

No responsible motorist would drink and drive. We need to ensure that text devotees understand that texting is one of the most hazardous things that can be done while in charge of a motor car.

It does seem strange that while the vast majority of people realise the dangers of drinking and driving, and so avoid doing so at all costs, people are still using a hand-held phone while in control of a motor vehicle.

The laws are already in place in the UK, with the illegal use of a mobile phone while driving resulting in three penalty points on a license and a £60 ($100) fine. Furthermore, causing a fatal accident due to using a mobile phone could see a driver jailed for up to five years.

As we now seem to have drink driving under control, maybe the next big target should be those who use a mobile phone while driving. This study shows the danger being caused by the practice and clearly something needs to be done to crackdown on the open abuse of the law.

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Entry was posted on Friday, September 19th, 2008 at 4:33 pm under Cell phones, Crime, Opinion, Technology.

Read more entries by Dave Parrack.
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