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Motoring news

Text-driving 'worse than drink driving'

22/09/2008

Text-driving can be more dangerous than drink driving or driving under the influence of cannabis, RAC research has shown.

Simulator research carried out for the RAC by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) found that 17-24-year olds' average reaction times slowed by 35% when they read and wrote texts whilst driving.

Previous studies by the TRL showed that reactions were 21% slower among those under the influence of cannabis, and 12% slower among those at the legal alcohol limit.

However, Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said that participants in the study had been "almost unanimous" that drinking was the most dangerous influence on driving.

The research into 'text-driving' showed that it had the greatest impact on lane positioning and the second greatest impact on reaction times, with only talking on a hand-held phone being more dangerous.

It found that text-drivers drifted out of their lane more often, were less able to maintain a safe distance, and that their steering control was 91% less accurate than normal; compared to 35% worse for those under the influence of cannabis.

Commenting on its findings, the TRL said that texting had a combination of effects.

"The increased mental workload required to write a text message, the control impairment caused by the physical act of holding the phone, and the visual impairment caused by continually shifting visual orientation between the phone display and the road ahead [all] resulted in significantly impaired ability to maintain safe road position," it said.