Most people know all about the dangers of texting and driving. They don’t do it out of ignorance. In one study, a full 98 percent of those polled admitted they understood how risky it was.
At the same time, about 75 percent of those same drivers said they’d done it. So the next logical question is simple: Why do people willingly do something that they know puts everyone in danger?
Some claimed the reason was that they tried to contain their texting and driving to red lights. While waiting for that light to turn, they’d check on any messages that came in while they were driving.
Others expressed common concerns that did not make the activity safe, but showed why they did it. For instance, more than a quarter of drivers said they felt that they needed to check their messages because they did not want to miss out on anything that happened while they were driving.
Still others stressed that their friends expected them to answer texts instantly. They felt social pressure not to put it off.
Curiously, more than 25 percent also said they thought their ability to drive did not decline at all when they were texting. However, since 98 percent knew the risks in the study noted above, that means they somehow believed that texting and driving is risky for everyone else — just not for them.
These attitudes show why we can’t shake texting and driving as one of the most dangerous things that happens on the highway. Those who are hit and injured must know their rights to compensation.
Source: CBS, “Why so many people text and drive, knowing dangers,” accessed March 16, 2018