While most drivers in Mississippi recognize that texting while driving is extremely dangerous, few people realize the true extent of the danger.  While some public safety organizations have begun referring to texting while driving as ‘the new DUI”, the practice does not yet generate the same sense of moral outrage as drunk driving.  It is somewhat hard to understand why this is the case given recent studies that suggest text messaging while driving may cause as many accidents and fatalities as driving while intoxicated.  According to a study conducted by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, drivers that text message are six times more likely to be involved in a car accident than those who are not texting.

While all cell phone use while driving creates a driving distraction and poses an increased risk of causing a car accident,  research conducted by the University of Utah suggest that text messaging while driving poses an especially dangerous driving hazard.  The researchers have conducted a series of studies designed to evaluate the impact of text messaging on driving and car accident rates. The researchers found that driver’s that texted while performing in a driving simulator were involved in more collisions, displayed slower braking times  when responding to brake lights and exhibited impaired lateral and forward motion in the vehicle simulator.

The researchers also concluded that the difference between driving impairment when texting as opposed to talking on a cell phone is linked to the difference in the way drivers process information. When drivers talk on the telephone they split their attention between both talking and driving and shift the priority of their attention between the activities. Texting drivers are not able to divide their attention so when they are texting their entire attention is focused on reading, writing or sending text messages as opposed dividing their attention between the task of driving and talking on a cell phone.  The study found that the reaction time for drivers when braking decreased thirty percent when drivers were texting while decreasing only nine percent when talking on a cell phone.

While Mississippi has banned text messaging in limited situations, such as use by bus drivers when transporting school kids, state legislators have failed to pass bills that would prohibit cell phone use by all drivers and even rejected a provision that would have prohibited texting in a school zone.  This is surprising given that prior studies conducted by the University of Utah have indicated that drivers who are engaged in text messaging exhibit more signs of impairment while driving than driver with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent, which is the threshold at which a driver is considered legally intoxicated.  It is inconceivable that Mississippi parents would condone an exception to DUI laws in school zones or general authorization to drive while intoxicated.

While public awareness is growing regarding the extent of the dangers associated with texting and driving, the practice still is not condemned like driving under the influence of alcohol.  It is estimated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that almost 5,500 people per year are killed and another 450,000 people are injured in distracted driving collisions.  If you or your loved one has been injured in a Mississippi motor vehicle accident involving a distracted driver who is texting rather than concentrating on his or her driving, our experienced Mississippi distracted driver attorneys represent our clients with diligence and compassion.  We invite you to contact Barrett Law so that we can evaluate your Mississippi car accident claim and advise you of your rights and options.  Call us at 662-834-2376.

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