On behalf of Sheriff Marcos R. Lopez and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, we address the alarming rise of texting while driving, a growing national epidemic.
This dangerous habit is one of the leading causes of accidents in the United States. Despite the belief that texting on the road is manageable, the data paints a different and sobering reality:
Did you know?
* Texting while driving is approximately six times more likely to cause an accident than driving under the influence.
* It’s comparable to driving after consuming four beers, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).
* Among teen drivers, it is the top distraction behind the wheel.
Additional startling statistics:
* Increases the risk of a crash by 23 times, per the NHTSA.
* Is like driving blind for 5 seconds at a time, as reported by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.
* At any moment, 800,000 drivers across the country are actively texting behind the wheel.
* Slows brake reaction time by 18%, confirmed by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.
* Leads to a 400% increase in eyes-off-the-road incidents.
The message is clear: Don’t text and drive.
If you need to check your phone, please pull over to a safe location. Let’s work together to make our roads safer for everyone.
