Though almost all Ontario drivers know that texting and driving is dangerous and against Ontario’s texting and driving laws, many drivers continue to text while driving. It seems that drivers are “addicted” to checking their phones at all times. This “addiction” is similar to gamblers who cannot resist the urge to gamble at casinos or smokers who cannot resist the urge to smoke even though they know it is bad for their health.

A recent study conducted in the United States found that drivers are “addicted” to checking their phones. The study surveyed 904 drivers and found the following:

• 87% of the respondents believe that sending/checking emails or texting while driving is unsafe
• 18% of the respondents say they “cannot resist the urge” to send or check emails/texts while driving
• 16% of the respondents say they have the urge to check their phones every few minutes when driving
• 17% of 18 to 34 year old respondents admitted to “always or often” texting while driving
• 7% of 35 to 54 year old respondents admitted to “always or often” texting while driving

What is more troubling than the finding that drivers “cannot resist the urge” to check their phones is the unsettling belief of many millennials, who are between the ages of 18 and 34. Millennials had the lowest percentage of agreement when asked if they believe that using a cell phone while driving is unsafe. 95% of respondents over the age of 55 strongly agreed, while only 81% of the millennials agreed.

According to the study, when people receive information on the phone that is enjoyable, the brain releases a chemical called dopamine that makes us feel happy. Because people do not know whether the text or email will be gratifying or not, they feel the urge to check their phones.

Ontario Distracted Driving Accidents

Car accidents happen in a matter of seconds. Taking your eyes off the road for just 1 second can lead to a catastrophic or fatal car accident. Drivers must resist the urge to check their phones while driving. No text or email is worth a life. Put the phone out of your reach when you drive. Rather than putting it in the glove compartment, put it in the back seat where you can’t reach it.

If you or a loved one was injured in an Ontario car, truck or bus accident because the driver that caused the accident was texting while driving, you have legal rights and may be able to recover your damages and injuries from the accident. To talk to someone about your car accident anywhere in Eastern Ontario, including Kingston and Ottawa, call the personal injury lawyers at Bergeron Clifford for a FREE consultation. 1-866-384-5886

*Source: http://www.usatoday.com (Texting while driving kills, but will we stop?)