Texting traffic accident risk revealedRSS Feed

The traffic accident rate in the US could well be higher than it already is as it emerges that a worrying number of people text whilst driving.

Thirty per cent of motorists in the country aged under 30 say they used their phone to send text messages while behind the wheel, according to a survey from the US Department of Transport and Consumer Products.

Some 63 per cent of respondents admitted to using their phone at some point while driving, risking an accident claim in the process.

Figures show that distracted driving killed 5,474 people in the US in 2009, with close to a fifth of those involving a mobile phone.

Worryingly, just 36 per cent of under-30s felt concerned about distracted driving, while just 30 per cent thought it dangerous to use a phone while behind the wheel.

"Distracted driving has become a deadly epidemic on America's roads," said transportation secretary Ray LaHood in a statement.

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a total of 33,808 people were killed in traffic accidents on US roads in 2009.

Accident claims advice from Serious Law

Posted by M E Dixon  

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