According to a recent British study, SENDING a text message on a mobile phone while driving is more dangerous than being drunk or under the influence of drugs.
The group studied were betweeen the ages of 17 and 24. Interestingly enough, the reaction times an distraction level were significant even if they were just reading the messages or ignoring the messages.
This study comes out on the heels of a tragic train accident last week.
The National Transportation Safety Board examined cell phone records after two 14-year-old boys said they had received text messages from the engineer moments before the commuter train sped through a red light and crashed into an oncoming freight train.
Members of the FRA’s railroad safety advisory committee had been considering restricting electronic device usage in the locomotive cab as it develops new safety rules, agency spokesman Steven Kulm said. He said the group discussed the matter in meetings earlier in the year. At a minimum, this safety rule should be in effect for public transportation and should be considered for our highways as well.
