Driving While Texting Statistics

Text messaging is on the rise in America and so too are the number of accidents occurring as a result of users who are distracted as they are sending and receiving the messages.

Text messaging, or texting, is the sending of short messages using a cellular phone or other personal digital assistant. Problems arise when users who are walking, running, skating and even driving are distracted while texting.

Driving While Texting (DWT) is of particular concern to many due to the catastrophic injuries and fatalities that can occur when a pedestrian or other driver is struck by a moving vehicle. If you have been involved in a accident caused by DWT a car accident attorney can determine if you are entitled to compensation for your injuries.

Below is a compilation of statistics related to DWT. The data is illustrative of the volume of text messaging in the U.S., accidents related to texting, teens and texting, and finally, legislation that is being enacted to protect drivers from the dangerous occurrence of DWT.

Text Messages Sent In the U.S.
•    600.5 Billion text messages were sent in 2007, according to CTIA , a wireless association
•    Number of text messages sent by the average American per month: 357
•    Number of phone calls made by the average American per month: 204
•    Number of text messages sent by the average teenager per month: 1,742

Driving While Texting (DWT)
•    80% of crashes, and 65% of near crashes, involved some form of driver inattention within 3 seconds of the event
•    57% of American drivers admit to texting behind the wheel
•    89% of American adults think sending text messages while driving is dangerous and should be outlawed
•    790 average number of texts sent per month by 18-24 year olds
•    #1 Cause of death ages 18-27 automobile crashes
•    Number of people killed and injured in 2008 commuter train crash where rail engineer was texting just before the crash: 163
•    Number of seconds prior to crash that the engineer was texting: 22

Teens and Texting
•    Percentage of teens admitting to text messaging while driving in 2008: 46
•    Percentage of teens admitting to text messaging while driving in 2006: 13
•    32% of young adults admit to sending text messages while driving
•    43 % of young adults read text messages while driving
•    Someone dies every 13 minutes on a road in America

Legislation Banning DWT
•    Number of states banning text messaging for all drivers: 8
•    Number of states restricting text messaging by novice drivers: 9
•    Number of states banning school bus drivers from texting while driving: 6

If you have questions regarding criminal or civil penalties for the negligent driver, you can speak with a car accident attorney who can advise you on the legal consequences for those involved in the accident.