Breaking News: New Study Finds People View Those Who Text While Driving as Dangerous, Public Asks Why Funding a Study for This Was Needed

Ever get that feeling when you first slip into the driver’s seat of your car that today’s the day you’ll get into an accident?  That despite all those hours you endured being belittled by your driving instructor, aka mom and/or dad, on the importance of safe driving that your spotless driving record, and possibly even life, may all come to an end because someone was trying to catch a green light or was too busy chatting on their phone?  If you have, then you’re not alone.

According to a new study conducted by the Obvious Police, aka the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, over a third of drivers feel less safe driving today than they did in 2004.

What’s gotten people so scared?  Apparently, AAA says it’s you — John Smith (it’s not really due to just that one guy, I just like the image of all the John Smiths reading this collectively furrowing their eyebrows in anger).  Specifically, the report cites drivers who text or email while driving as the numero uno factor causing motorists to feel unsafe, and with good reason.

It’s no secret that texting while driving is incredibly dangerous (second news flash, smoking causes cancer).  What’s surprising is that over sixty percent of people do it and nearly a fifth of drivers do it despite knowing the risks.  Coming in second on the list of fears is distracted driving, e.g. people putting on make-up or writing that big presentation while driving, followed by the infamous cell phone-yapping driver.

The odd part is that the current number of driving-related fatalities in America is actually at it’s lowest since 1961 and has been declining since this wonderful recession we’re (still) in hit. Theories abound as to why this is the case.  Most analysts say it’s the bad economy coupled with high gas prices that are keeping people from driving and opting to bus it everywhere instead.  More aggressive traffic ticketing from highway patrol may be another cause keeping drivers off the road.  And ironically enough fear of getting into an accident due to the aforementioned distracted driver may all play a large part in reducing driving deaths and car crashes, as well.

Our own in-house statistics seem to support this newly reported trend, too.  The number of automobile accident cases received by LegalMatch has gradually decreased since 2004.  An interesting side note is that the number of divorce cases LegalMatch has received have slowly increased in close portion.  Maybe the bad economy coupled with that old adage of strength and comfort in numbers has caused couples to carpool and hence want to scratch each other eyes out.  People, there’s something called personal space, you need it.

Despite the seemingly lower chances of getting into a fatal car accident, the fear of texting cell phone-talking drivers is still keeping many once-proud motorists at bay, or more specifically on buses and bicycles.  Ba-da-bump…  I would recommend that you all have nothing to fear, but I’m just as worried as the majority of Americans.  On the bright side, at least my legs will get ripped from biking 12 miles everyday.