Below are some cell phone and texting statistics to think about before getting behind the wheel.
• National Safety Council Estimates that at Least 1.6 Million Crashes Each Year Involve Drivers Using Cell Phones and Texting.
• Despite the risks, the majority of teen drivers ignore cell phone driving restrictions.
• 56% of teenagers admit to talking on their cell phones behind the wheel, while 13% admit to texting while driving. (Note: Because this information was given voluntarily by teens, actual cell phone use numbers may be much higher.)
• 40% of all American teens say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put people in danger.
• 48% of young Americans from 12-17 say they’ve been in a car while the driver was texting.
• 52% of 16 and 17 year-old teen drivers confess to making and answering cell phone calls on the road. 34% admit to text messaging while driving. Teens themselves confirm that texting is their number one driving distraction.
• 11% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted.
• Each year, 21% of fatal car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 were the result of cell phone usage. This result has been expected to grow as much as 4% every year.
• Of all cell phone related tasks – including talking, dialing, or reaching for the phone – texting while driving is the most dangerous.
• Teen drivers are four times more likely than adults to get into car crashes or near crash events directly related to talking on a cell phone or texting.
• A car driver dialing a cell phone is 2.8 times more likely to get into a crash than a non-distracted driver.
If you’ve received a traffic citation and would like to speak to a Miami Traffic Lawyer, contact Hochman & Goldin PA by calling 305-665-1000.