Impaired driving: text messaging becomes a road hazard

Listening to the car radio, gazing at flashy billboards and chatting on the long-targeted cellphone seem like minor distractions when compared with text messaging, according to new studies that suggest drivers who steer and type may be dangerously distracted.

According to a September 2008 British study, drivers who tap out text messages while driving are significantly more impaired than those who drive drunk. Among drivers who texted, reaction time dropped 35 per cent, while steering ability fell 91 per cent. By comparison, reaction time in drunk drivers fell 12 per cent.

As of January 2008, Washington became the first U.S. state to make texting while driving illegal. Alaska, Louisiana, Minnesota and New Jersey followed suit.

In Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador became the first province to ban the use of handheld cellphones while driving in 2003. As of April 1, 2008, motorists in Nova Scotia are prohibited from using hand-held devices for talking or texting. Quebec followed suit and began issuing fines on July 1.

Meanwhile, the debate over using handheld devices for phone calls continues. Some drivers suggest they are able to maintain their focus on the road while chatting on the phone. The Canada Safety Council suggests current careless driving laws are sufficient and make a sweeping ban unnecessary.

However, the Ontario Medical Association in September 2008 suggested the provincial government should respond to the growing problem of driver distraction with widespread educational campaigns or legislative changes.

The OMA said drivers who use a cellphone experience decreased cognitive function and slower reaction time. Drivers who use handheld devices are also more likely to be involved in a collision.

The advice builds upon a range of driver distraction studies, including an influential 1997 study conducted by University of Toronto professor Dr. Don Redelmeier. The study looked at the cellphone records of 699 Torontonians who had been in traffic accidents and found that 24 per cent of motorists used their phones within a 10-minute window before the accident occurred. Drivers who used their phones during this brief timeframe quadrupled their risk of collision, the study concluded.

The Canadian Automobile Association says having a conversation on a cellphone, particularly a stressful discussion, can increase the risk of accident. The group also cautions that while hands-free devices can be helpful, fiddling with the settings or putting on a headset is often a distraction to the driver. The CAA recommends drivers, even those who rely on headsets, pull over before placing or picking up a call.