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The state of New Jersey does not mess around with texting and driving. Not only is it illegal to text when driving but if you knowingly text a person when they are driving you might find yourself in court too. The fact is that no matter your age, ones reaction time is delayed when they are distracted. We just can’t really do two things at once. So the question is “Are cell phones truly a distraction?” There is a growing concern about teenagers texting and driving. However, studies have shown that adults are texting just as much or more. Adults log more hours on the road. They use their so called down time or drive time for working and connecting with friends and family. 

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According to a study conducted by Texas A&M University’s Texas Transportation Institute found on AutoTrader.com cell phones are a distraction. Participants were asked to stop when they saw a flashing yellow light. Those who drove the course without texting responded to the signal in two seconds. But when the driver was texting, the response time was extended by three to four seconds. Additionally, the texting driver was 11 times more likely to miss the flashing light altogether. The 3-4 second lag time in the actual driving study is significant because in that period at highway speeds one can travel the length of a football field. Read the full report.  We all think we can do two things at once. The reality is that our mind switches back and forth between the two tasks. Sometimes so quickly that it almost seems as if we are doing two things at the same time. Take the test on the video below to see if you can really do two things at a time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahg6qcgoay4 After taking the test how confident are you about driving and texting, no matter your age and driving ability.  

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For additional information about texting and driving laws in New Jersey click here. If you are in need of a lawyer due to texting and driving contact the the Law Offices of Aretsky & Aretsky . 

A new study published last week says that teens who text while driving are more likely not to be wearing a seat belt, ride with a driver who’s been drinking, or to drink and drive themselves. That’s not all. About half of teen-agers surveyed admitted to texting while driving. All of these factors suggest that teens may be placing themselves at a substantially higher risk than previously thought.

Motor Vehicle Crashes Leading Cause of Death for Teens

As it is, the leading cause of death among teens ages 16 to 19 are motor vehicle crashes, killing about 3,000 teens a year. Researchers applauded efforts such as graduated licenses for teen-agers (limited driving rights for younger teens) but said the most effective preventative strategies start with parents. They say parents should forbid their teen-agers from texting while driving, and set forth a strong example by not texting while driving themselves. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has compiled a comprehensive list of things parents can do, including providing their teen with a parent-teen driving agreement. In New Jersey, teens receive graduated driver’s license based on their age under the Graduated Driver License Program.

• The Early Bird Road, for 16 year old drivers
• The Young Adult Road, for drivers 17-21
• The Adult Road, for drivers 21 and older

The program restricts the hours that the teen can drive to 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., passengers to just one unless they are accompanied by a parent or the passengers are the teen’s dependents, cell phone use, and plea-bargaining any offense that carries points. For more information on the latest bills regarding teen driving, go here. The study was published online this week in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Researchers used data from the 2011 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The survey assessed the driving-texting behavior among 8,505 students ages 16 years old and up. You can find the study here. Photo credit: Highway Patrol Images