What happens to the brain while texting or during a cell phone call.

• MRI brain scans during driving simulations show that when a driver is concentrating on driving, the area of the brain that controls for spatial awareness is lit up. When that same driver is involved in a cell phone conversation, the area of the brain that controls language comprehension lights up and the area for spatial awareness is reduced by 37%.
• A recent study of experienced truck drivers by Virginia Tech showed that texting increases the chances of a crash by 23%.

Distances covered while distracted by a cell phone or text.

A car traveling at 40 mph covers a distance of almost 60 feet per second. At that speed, taking your eyes off the road for three seconds means you will cover a distance of almost 180 feet. A lot can happen in that amount of time, especially when cars in the opposing lane are also traveling at 40 mph (a closure speed of 80 mph or 120 feet per second).
It can take up to 1 ½ to 2 full seconds from the time a driver perceives an emergency, decides what to do, and then, acts on that decision (braking or turning). During that critical 2 seconds, at 40 mph, the car will travel an additional 120 feet before the driver acts. If the driver has decided to brake, at 40 mph, it will take an additional 66 feet after the brakes are fully applied to come to a stop.

Broken down, that means: 
Distraction distance for 3 seconds = 180 ft.                                                                                                                       
Reaction time (2 seconds) distance = 120 ft. 
Braking distance = 66 ft. 
Total distance from distraction to stop = 366 ft.
A study by Virginia Tech shows that 85 % of crashes occur within 3 seconds of a driver distraction.

What happens to the car and occupants in a crash?

• A 3,000 pound car traveling at 40 mph will experience a crash force of 80.28 tons.
• At 40 mph, a 100 pound  girl, who isn’t wearing a seatbelt, will hit the steering wheel
• Or dash with a force of 2.6 tons

Most States have a Ban on Texting While Driving

TEXT LATER, DRIVE NOW is the theme of this very informative website

Check it out BEFORE the next time you want to TEXT while driving

www.texting4life.com

Texting is so dangerous that most states have worked quickly to enact bans on texting while driving. In some states, a driver who causes a crash by texting that result in death or injury will be charged with a felony and may face up to 20 years in prison. Utah drivers can face three months in prison just for texting while driving

These are You tube spots that could go with a new category under careless and distracted driving of Texting and driving

The spots may be viewed online here:

“Mom” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr14xoD1U9w)

and “Teen” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Kvqw0ExM7k).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0LCmStIw9E

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/The-Dangers-of-Texting-While-Driving-No-Phone-Zone-Video

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Testing-Text-Messaging-Drivers-Video