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New Texting and Driving Statistics and Preventive Apps

Michael Agruss

Written and Reviewed by Michael Agruss

  • Managing Partner and Personal Injury Lawyer at 844SeeMike.
  • Over 20 years of experience in Personal Injury.
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law: Juris Doctor, 2004.

We’re all aware of how mobile phone use has contributed to more and more distracted driving and resulting accidents and injuries, and the statistics and surveys never seem any less alarming. A new survey conducted by The Center for Internet and Technology found that 74% of drivers have engaged in a texting-related activity while driving, including: reading texts while driving (43%); checking for new messages while driving (35%); and sending texts while driving (27%). The survey also covered reading text messages at a red light (66%), sending texts at a red light (48%), and checking for messages at any stoplight (49%).

It’s important to remember that these percentages are of the drivers who participated in the survey rather than all drivers in the United States, but these surveys are usually meant to represent the entire population using a random segment of citizens.While there is no legitimate excuse for texting and driving – barring an emergency situation in which communication by texting is somehow urgent and necessary .

Some reasons provided to the surveyors included:

  • Believing that one’s driving performance is not affected by texting;
  • Feeling that another person expects the driver to respond to a text immediately;
  • Overconfidence in the ability to multitask while driving;
  • Fear of “missing something important” while driving;
  • And force of habit.

A recent CNN article also claims that 70% of surveyed teens admitted to using mobile apps while driving, and the teens were asked to pick the worst of three driving behaviors: 29% said intoxicated driving, 25% said sending a text message, and only 6% said actively browsing or posting on social media. A separate National Safety Council survey found that 74% of drivers have used Facebook while driving, 37% have used Twitter, 35% have used YouTube, and 33% have used Instagram.

However, developers have also come out with a number of impressive apps meant to stop texting while driving, and some can prohibit it entirely by “locking” the phone’s mechanisms.

Some of these apps, and similar apps to encourage safer driving, include:

  • Cellcontrol
  • Drivemode
  • ly
  • Drive Safe Mode
  • GetSafeDrive
  • Live2Txt

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a distracted driver, contact 844 See Mike, LLC for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you.

Lastly, 844 See Mike is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.

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