Texting Whilst Driving - The Dangers And The Consequences

Copyright (c) 2012 Robert Gray

There cannot be many amongst us that do not, now, own a mobile phone. It is often difficult to imagine life before mobile phones : days gone by where we had to use a fixed landline or even step into a telephone box to make a call. Mobile phones have many uses and appeal to different groups of people for different reasons. Mobile phones can be used to make calls, to send text messages, to play games, to check our bank accounts, to take photographs and to check our emails. It seems, nowadays, we would be lost without them! However, the fact that they are indeed 'mobile' phones means that many people do not go anywhere without their phone and, even whilst driving, people have their phone close by, perhaps in the pocket of their jacket or on the passenger seat next to them. It can be all too tempting, on hearing that familiar 'beep' to pick up your phone, whilst behind the wheel and read - and even respond to - the message you have been sent. Most people would admit that this is careless behaviour and yet more and more people continue to text whilst driving and the consequences of doing so can be catastrophic.

As soon as you pick up your phone whilst driving, to read or respond to a text message, your attention is immediately taken away from the road in front of you and you are distracted. Your concentration will be reduced and your ability to drive your car safely will be compromised. Your reaction time will be reduced and your ability to make snap decisions will also be affected. As soon you are giving any less than 100% concentration to the way you are driving your vehicle, the road ahead and the position and manoeuvres of other road users, you run the risk of causing a serious accident.

Using a mobile phone whilst driving is an offence and if caught you should not expect to get off lightly. The minimum penalty you may receive is 3 points on your licence and a fine, however, you may also face a prison sentence. Statistics tell us that too many people are still being injured - and even killed - on the UK roads as a result of accident caused because of mobile phone use while driving. There is only one solution : turn your mobile phone off before getting in your car and leave those 'all important' text messages until you are safely out of your vehicle.

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