Just How Bad for Your Reactions is Texting while Driving?

[John the Monkey]

This bad.

Results are from a closed course on which drivers had to react to A SINGLE HAZARD. (Not the multiple, quickly emerging conditions and hazards of driving on a real road).

 

[byegad]

I was driving to work one day when a texting driver of an oncoming vehicle crossed the white line and clipped my wing mirror with his totally destroying my mirror.

I was so shocked I dropped my coffee into my lap top and had to put my sandwich down to sort it all out! Bloody texting drivers!!!!

 

[661-Pete]

I was so shocked I dropped my coffee into my lap top and had to put my sandwich down to sort it all out!

...and you're still bleeding from the shaving cut...

Heard lots of variants of that one!

Seriously, though, I can think of nothing worse, for a driver to be doing. Come down on them like a ton of bricks, I say. Literally, if at all possible.

 

[dynohub]

I would call myself a driving enthusiast (and fair weather cyclist) and I would come down on people doing this like a ton of bricks.

 

[PaulB]

Rubbish! I'm driving as I'm writing this and I haven't come to any harm so fa

 

[Globalti]

I was once driven through rush-hour traffic in Lahore (northern Pakistan) in a tiny city car with a 12v TV on the dashboard while the driver watched Mrs Thatcher resigning on the news!

I was bloody relieved to get to my hotel though no restorative alcohol was available, sadly.

 

[ataction]

On my regular route to work I have almost been taken out by the same vehicle on a couple of occasions. The drive is invariably on the phone. I have reported him to the police twice. Waste of time. The vehicle in question is a large white van/mini bus with a trailer, they are a surf hire company with young students on board.
Saw it again yesterday...guess what the driver on the phone. I am very vexed by this driver and all other drivers who continue to drive and use the mobile. Why the hell don't they just buy a hands free system?