Texting while driving greatly increases the risk of crashes, as it takes a driver's eyes off the road for about 5 seconds on average - enough time to cover a football field when driving 55mph. Cell phones are responsible for 18% of distraction-related fatalities in the US, and females are twice as likely as males to use electronic devices while driving. Distracted driving is a serious problem, claiming over 3,000 lives in 2012 alone, with those under 20 and texting drivers being especially at risk of crashes due to lack of attention on the road.

1. Texting and Driving

2. The Facts
A texting driver is 23 times more likely to get into a crash
than a non-texting driver.
The average text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for nearly
five seconds. When traveling at 55mph, that’s enough time
to cover the length of a football field.
Cell phones are responsible for 18% of distraction related
fatalities in America.
According to AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, females
were twice as likely as males to be using an electronic
device while driving.

3. Why we should be concerned
Distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic on America's
roadways. In 2012 alone, 3,328 were killed in distracted
driving crashes.
In 2011, 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.
If you text while you’re behind the wheel, you’re 20 times
more likely to be involved in a crash than a non-distracted
driver. Talking on a cell phone reduces the amount of brain
activity devoted to driving by 37%