The dangers of texting while driving may go beyond the distraction and reduced reaction time that comes with it. In addition to causing car and truck accidents by taking the driver’s attention off the road, texting while driving may also inspire road rage.
Road rage is a more common problem than people may realize. According to a recent study conducted by CareerBuilder in Chicago, almost 60 percent of workers who drive to work experience road rage during the course of their commutes. Roughly one out of every four participants in the study reported that they were involved in an accident at some point during their commuting. Three out of ten acknowledged that they texted while driving. Angry driving is less common in the summer than in the winter. Winter driving conditions have a large impact on angry driving with 17 percent of commuters reporting fewer instances of road rage during the summer.
Texting while driving and road rage are both more closely associated with younger commuters. The age group between 25 and 34 were 22 percent more likely to engage in angry driving than workers older than 55, according to the study. Adults between 18 and 34 text while driving more than any other group, according to a Pew survey. The CareerBuilder study suggests that texting while driving is a common cause of the angry driving among commuters.
Texting while driving and angry driving are dangerous behaviors. Anger and distraction can cause a driver to make poor decisions, resulting in a serious accident.
Source: NBC Chicago, “Texting-While-Driving May Lead to Road Rage: Report,” by Alexandria Fisher, 18 July 2012
