Test shows driving while texting slows reactions more than being drunk
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One driver going 35mph took an extra 21 feet to hit the brake while reading a text message and 16 extra feet while typing a message. At 70mph, reading a text required 30 extra feet to stop and 31 feet while composing a text. While intoxicated, the stop at 35mph required 7 extra feet and 15 feet extra was noted at 70 mph.
The second driver, the magazine's Editor-in-Chief, needed 188 extra feet to brake the car at 35 mph while reading a message and 90 feet while typing; intoxicated, the figures were 7 feet and 15 feet respectively.
While the numbers show that being intoxicated resulted in quicker stopping times than texting, the former resulted in unintentional lane changes and less control of the vehicle. A recent survey showed that 25% of those responding admitted to texting while driving a car. The entire story can be found in this month's Car and Driver magazine.
source: CNET
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13 Comments
2. jrg11 posted on 25 Jun 2009, 14:35 0 0
.....so if I can drive great while texting, I guess that means I'll be an exceptional drunk driver right?
12. yourmom07 posted on 26 Jun 2009, 18:42 0 0
NO YOU MORON WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE THAT GOT DAMN IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAVE TO TEXT WHILE YOU DRIVE?? IF IT ISN'T AN EMERGENCY I DON'T THINK PEOPLE SHOULD BE ON THEIR PHONES WHILE DRIVING I KNOW I GET PISSED WHEN I'M DRIVING AND OTHER DRIVERS DO STUPID MOVES AND ALMOST HIT ME BECAUSE THEY'RE ON THEIR PHONES THEY'RE JUST AS BAD AS ELDERLY DRIVERS
13. jrg11 posted on 30 Jun 2009, 15:04 0 0
as an ederly person I am deeply offended by your racism
3. LGVX1993 posted on 25 Jun 2009, 15:29 0 0
You shouldnt have to send a message to anyone while driving.
10. vzw fanman posted on 26 Jun 2009, 12:03 0 0
well you can drink you just can't be over .08.
6. joolian posted on 25 Jun 2009, 21:18 0 0
wouldnt that be obvious ? at least when your drunk your paying attention to the road,
8. Pr0cl1v1ty posted on 26 Jun 2009, 09:20 0 0
i text all the time while im driving but only when theres no cars around, and i dont send a whole sentence i hit like one or two letters then look up then one or two more letters, also i only do it on straight -a-ways
9. jaymee520 posted on 26 Jun 2009, 11:28 0 0
i text all the time... but only when i am stopped at stoplights... qwerty phones are perfect to text on cause its all fast.! " dont drink and drive... you might hit a bump and spill your drink.... Dont drive and text... you might hit a bump and hit the wrong letter"
11. PapaJay224 posted on 26 Jun 2009, 13:26 0 0
Honestly if I got hit in my car from a driver whether by "drinking" or by "text" and my kids were in the car, I'd beat the tar out of who ever hit me regardless of "influence"...When your in the car, operate the damn vehicle....Save the other crap when your not endangering anyone else.
