A recent study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transport Institute on behalf of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has found that truckers that text while driving are about 23 times more likely to have a crash, or at least a close encounter, than drivers who are watching the road.

The study took place between 2005 and 2007 and monitored 203 drivers operating 55 trucks. The data covered over three million miles of actual driving time. The study indicated that the risk of crashes or near crash events were 5.9 times higher for truck drivers that were dialing cell phones as compared to a non- distracted driver. When those drivers were using or reaching for an electronic device the risk of a crash was 6.7 times higher. When those drivers were texting the risk of crash increased to 23.2 times higher than the non-distracted driver.

Another study conducted in June by Car and Driver Magazine indicated that texting while driving was more dangerous than driving while intoxicated.

Currently 14 states and the District of Columbia have laws that ban texting while driving. Look for additional states to follow. There is a Senate bill that would force states to enact these laws to ban texting or risk the loss of a big chunk of their highway appropriations funding.

Technology is a wonderful thing but as a society we are getting to the point where we are so involved in this technology we are losing sight of all logic. For those of us who fall into this category, lets use our heads while we are driving to drastically reduce the risk that we will endanger ourselves, our family and those innocent folks driving in the vehicle next to us.

Tony Nuzio