The ability to text others may have changed the way you communicate in your daily life. Although texting on your cellphone provides convenience, it can be dangerous when you do it while you drive.
In Florida, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, law enforcement officials can pull over and ticket drivers who text and drive at the same time. The law states that drivers cannot enter symbols, numbers or multiple letters into a device to send someone an email, text message or instant message.
Examples of driver distractions
Although texting and driving is against the law in Florida, there are other types of distracted driving activities that can be hazardous to drivers, passengers and pedestrians. For example, trying to look at a map, eat breakfast on the way to work, adjust the radio or even converse with a passenger can distract you and make it harder to drive safely.
Why texting and driving is so dangerous
You can categorize distracted driving activities into three main types of distraction, which include cognitive distraction, manual distraction and visual distraction. Texting and driving is one of the most dangerous forms of driver distraction because it combines all three types of distraction.
If you got into an accident with a driver who chose to text behind the wheel, you may have sustained serious injuries that prohibit you from getting back to your normal daily life. Following the accident, it is essential that you collect witness information, follow your physician’s instructions for recovery and write down your account of the collision.