According to studies, a driver’s eyes are off the road for four to six seconds when sending or receiving a text message. The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) says a lot can happen in these few seconds, and if your eyes are not on the road you are putting yourself and everyone around you in danger. The VTTI also says you are 23 times more likely to crash when texting while driving than driving when not distracted.
A driver is required to operate a steering wheel with both hands to maintain full control of the moving vehicle. Using one hand to hold the phone and the other to text is suicidal and puts others in real danger. Although using a cell phone is prohibited while driving, it is difficult for authorities to detect from fast-moving cars. Unfortunately, motorists do not realize that all these regulations, including wearing a seatbelt, are in place for their own safety.
Also, pedestrians cross busy streets glued to their cell phone without looking both ways. Braving the constant heavy traffic, we see them frequently crossing Salahudin Al-Ayubi and Al-Ahsa streets in Riyadh despite there being no marked pedestrian crossings. We hope the relevant authorities will do what is needed to avoid unfortunate accidents taking place.
— S.H. Moulana, Riyadh
Texting while driving
