Study: Texting while driving on the rise
By Molly Martinez, KRON-TV
In a worrying trend, more California drivers are using their cell phones while driving this year than last, according to a study released by state officials today.
The study, conducted by the state Office of Traffic Safety and the UC Berkeley Safe Transportation Research and Education Center, centers on observations of driver behavior.
Researchers this year observed 9.2 percent of drivers using their cell phone. That marks a 39 percent increase from 2014, when 6.6 percent of drivers were seen using their cell phones, but remains lower than the all-time high of 10.8 percent recorded in 2012, officials said.
If using your phone while driving is as bad as drinking and driving how come the penalties aren’t the same?
I smell BS. If someone is so stupid they get into an accident fine the hell out of them. If not go find something productive to do.
Consider reading the non fiction book: A Deadly Wandering.
Brain science research from UCSF, UCLA and other prestigious research institutions show how driving while on a cell phone or texting are deadly. Two family men wiped out in a horrific crash caused by a texting teen. To this day, the young man who caused the wreck speaks to groups from high school students to professional athletic teams on the dangers of cell phone use of any kind while driving a car.
Good required reading for your teen.
Cars should have a special device that will not start the car if there is a cell phone in the front seat, or some other type of technology.
the thought of dying in a car wreck due to cell phone use is absolutly unacceptable. The consequences for causing this type of accident should be so harsh that noone wants to take a chance.
Bats, have you ever seen the inside front of a police car? Dash mounted gadgets, computers, phone, radio, etc. Why is “distracted driving” okay for one class of people and not another?
I’m sure you’ll say it’s training, but I don’t buy that. Not at all.
Dog…Jeez.
Wrongula, always finding fault…always wrong….always…
there is a huge difference between a police officer having “gadgets” in their vehicles that help them do their jobs and some distracted texting teenager. Do you think EMT and fire vehicles should not have the tools that help them save lives? Your ignorance and obvious biases are really quite telling. But im sure your reply will be that im the ignorant gbmt loving bla bla bla. Hope they give you a big fine for using your “gadget” when you get caught using them when you drive. Even there in enlightened Nevada it is against the law, for the betterment of all society.