Texting while driving is illegal in North Carolina. Despite this law designed to prevent distracted driving, motorists are still worried about distracted driving. Ninety-seven percent of drivers said distracted drivers are their biggest safety threat on the road, according to a survey by Kelly Blue Book.
Distracted driving can come in many forms, but the drivers surveyed reported cellphone use, particularly texting while driving, as their biggest concern, and they are blaming drivers between the ages of 19 and 34 for this dangerous behavior.
The survey reported that 81 percent of respondents said that drivers between the ages of 19 and 34 were the most likely to text behind the wheel. While younger drivers may use their cellphones more often than older drivers throughout the day, drivers of all ages are guilty of distracted driving, including cellphone use.
Case in point: the survey found that 62 percent of individuals in the survey admitted to texting while their vehicle wasn’t moving, and 36 percent said they texted while their vehicle was moving and while it was not. This means that it’s not just younger drivers who text while driving.
Texting while driving and other dangerous behaviors are risky for all drivers regardless of their age. Drivers need to understand the risks of using a cellphone behind the wheel and take steps before they start driving to reduce distractions.
How can you prevent distractions while driving? Below are just a few tips to consider:
- Turn your cellphone off or keep out of reach while driving
- Set your radio and other controls before you start driving
- Pull over if you need to look at your phone or make a call
Taking simple steps before you start driving can significantly reduce distractions that can be very dangerous for you and everyone else on the road.