Look mom, no hands! The dangers of texting while driving

Being distracted while driving is one of the major causes of accidents on our roads – with the number one distraction being your mobile phone.

Those few seconds you spend quickly reading a message or typing a reply could lead to disaster as studies showed that texting takes the driver’s focus away from the road for about 4,6 seconds.

Sounds like nothing, but it is enough time to travel the length of a soccer field at nearly 90 kilometres an hour.

Furthermore, your reaction time while texting will deteriorate by 35 percent – which is slower than drivers under the influence of cannabis who were about 21 percent slower.

Talking on the phone while driving, even with the hand-held option, reduces the brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent according to researchers studying brain imaging.

Besides the fact that it is dangerous, it is also illegal. According to the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 (NRTA) , the following rules apply:

• No driver is allowed to use a hand-held cell phone while driving.
• A cell phone may not be used at traffic lights when the car is not moving.
• A cell phone may not be used while the engine of a vehicle is running.
• Even if the vehicle is stationary but the engine is still running, you may not use your cell phone.
• A cell phone may not be used for taking photos or browsing the Internet while driving.

Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 061 718 4438.

Please read our WhatsApp broadcast list disclaimer.
Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram