Why Texting Is Not A Good Idea When You Drive

by

06 May 2019

Automotive

Dangers of texting and driving for teens

“Nearly 390,000 injuries occur each year

From accidents caused by texting while driving.”

– National Safety Council, USA (2018 Study)

Why Texting and Driving are Dangerous:

The rise of social media and the necessity of being connected 24×7 have given rise to many problems. One of the biggest of them all are the dangers associated with driving when you are texting.

Youngsters and especially teenagers are the biggest risk takers when it comes to these hazards. The use of WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram Chat all act as sources of distractions. According to a Study by the National Safety Council, nearly 400,000 dangerous accidents occur each year because of texting.

Teenagers and Texting on Roads:

The problem of texting while driving is not restricted to teenagers. However, they are affected by it the most. The fear of losing out to something interesting is so great that even though many acknowledge the dangers of driving and texting, they cannot stop.

Let us look at some numbers when it comes to dangers of texting and driving for teens

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA):

  • Over 95% of teenagers are aware of the risks associated with driving and texting. However, more than 35% were arrogant enough to say that they keep on doing it.
  • The number of teenagers involved in fatal accidents who had been using their mobile phones was over 21%.
  • Compared with their adult counterparts, teenagers were more likely to be involved in texting and driving accidents by 4x times.
  • If there are other occupants in the car, the probability of a texting and driving accident increase by 5x times.

How Counselling by Parents can Control this Dangerous Epidemic?

While teenagers are to be blamed for this reckless activity, many experts feel that their parents should impart this basic understanding of the dangers to them.

It is very important for parents to set a good example for their teenage children while using an automobile. Kids often pick up the habits of their elders. This includes the use of a cell phone while driving.

If you are a parent, you should avoid using cell phones while you are driving with your kids. Unless it is a very important call, or a text, or an email, you should not address it. Even if you have to, pull over to a safe side of the road, bring the car to an idle, and then engage on your cell phone.

This will make your kid understand from a very young age about good habits and practices. It is also a good idea to set some ground rules for your kids when it comes to driving. Teenagers are very safe when it comes to taking their rights away.

You can tell them that if they are caught using their cell phones while driving, they will not be allowed anywhere near the car for a month. The quantum of punishment can wary, but parents need to be tough, in order to protect their children.

Dangers of Texting and Driving: The Final Word

Due to the changed rules of society and social media, teenagers are already under a lot of stress. They have self-doubt issues, depression, and other pressures. All these play a role when it comes to their driving.

It is imperative for parents to talk to their kids and tell them that answering a text after five minutes would not change a thing. The need to be always updated to social happenings is not more important than their lives.

No one is invincible, and talking about statistics of the dangers will help them understand the problem better. If you are a parent, you need to start setting examples and ground rules for your children.

Read Also:

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

how many wheels are in the world

How Many Wheels Are In The World? – Are You Excited To Know?

Have you ever wondered how many wheels are there in the world? The first answer that will come to the fore is that there are actually plenty of wheels, which are infinite in number. However, in this article, we will look at this interesting question a bit differently and find out how many wheels are in the world in particular. With the Automotive Industry growing in leaps and bounds every year, the number of wheels depends upon the large number of vehicles being produced. Estimations have speculated that the number of wheels could be anywhere around 37 billion globally. Furthermore, in this article, you will also know why this question is there in the first place and what is the motivation behind finding out how many wheels exist in the world. You will also know about the fact why many people want to know how many wheels are there in the world estimate, as well as the views of the people. How Many Wheels Are In The World Total? – General Background Many users on the internet and social media (Twitter in particular) organized a popular poll, which was mainly about whether there are more doors or more wheels in the world. Hence, there were two different opinions from different users, and the reasons that people came up with were also interesting and, in some cases, extremely funny. On the one hand, many people were of the opinion that there are more doors in the world since there are many buildings and a single building has several doors. On the other hand, others claimed that since there are too many vehicles in the world, the number of wheels outnumbers the doors. Many people from around the world participated in the poll, and many people enjoyed the answers on the poll. The poll was featured in many countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, Ireland, and many more. The person who started this poll is Ryan Nixon. According to him, he found similar questions in Quora, from where he took the idea. According to Ryan, the question he found on Quora is, “If you could have one superpower, what would it be?” To answer the question, Ryan replied, “The ability to know the answer to any question I wanted.” This is how he found the idea of asking the question to people on the internet. Although it may sound strange to you, this is actually how the poll started and got popular in no time. More Doors Or More Wheels – What About The Post? Image Source Ryan Nixon posted the poll on March 5, 2022, on his Twitter account with the Twitter ID @NewYorkNixon. In the poll, he posted, “My mates and I are having the STUPIDEST debate...And I am here for it. Do you think there are more doors or wheels in the world?” As of February 22, 2023, we found that there are 223,347 votes. The final results are already out. The poll results were close, as 53.6% of people voted for more wheels, while 46.4% of people voted for more doors. There are 4823 retweets of the post and 19,200 likes on the post. Furthermore, 4414 people quoted the tweet. From the moment Ryan posted the tweet, it went viral in no time. Within three days, the post was one of the most viewed on the internet. Many experts are of the opinion that the reason behind the post being popular is that it was truly unique, and different people have different opinions about the post. Additionally, the post got popular quite fast on Facebook, Reddit, and other social platforms as well. What People Are Saying About The Doors Vs. Wheel Post? Image Source You must have already understood that the post was unique and got popular due to it being interesting and funny at the same time. This is because hardly any people think about the number of doors and wheels in their own houses and cars, let alone the world. The funny part about the post is the way how many people came together to vote on the poll and have a debate in the comment section of the post. The question was, although simple, it was intriguing as well. For example, one person even commented, “Who is voting doors??? There’s wheels on everything. I have wheels on my garment rack, makeup storage holder, rubbish bin. It’s definitely wheels.” In return, Ryan Nixon replied, “You have more wheels in your house than doors? Think about cupboards, the pantry etc. Think about how many doors there would be in something like an apartment building or hotel...” Such conversations and opinions made the post extremely interesting. Some of the other comments that added fuel to the fire are: “Very solidly wheels. All cars have 4 wheels but 2-4 doors. An average home might have 6-10 doors but it also has 3 suitcases with 6-12 wheels. A collection of toy cars might have 400 wheels.” “How many suitcases with wheels on have you got in your house? I’ve got eight. That’s 32 wheels just there.” “Doors. Four door cars and trucks nullify themselves. All ships have doors, no wheels. All buildings have doors, no wheels. Doors.” “Doors by far. Most things with wheels have at least a 2:1 door-wheel ratio, and then you have all the other doors in the world.” “In my household there are 29 doors including fridge, cupboards, washing machine, tumble dryer and car. Got 4 wheels on my car and the hamster has a wheel, can’t think of any more wheels I’m saying doors." "Using the ideology that wheels are only for vehicles and doors only count if they can be walked through. Think it’s quite clear that doors win. Let me know if I’ve missed anything major or something needs explaining.” "Think it’s quite clear that doors win. Let me know if I’ve missed anything major or if something needs explaining.” "Doors. Four door cars and trucks nullify themselves. All ships have doors, no wheels. All buildings have doors, no wheels. Doors." "Easily doors There's double the number of homes in the world than there are other types of buildings too, eg shops, businesses etc Then on top of that, most vehicles have many doors too," "Must be wheel. Wheels is one of the earliest human inventions. Not only in vehicles, but also in rollerblades, suitcases, chairs, etc. Wheels also made each day more than doors." "Just to confuse this debate do you mean EVER or NOW? as this very much alters my answer. Also, is a broken door or wheel still a door or wheel? I need some rules here." "You have ruined my life, I've lost sleep over this." "This has sent me into a spiral and I can't escape it." What Is The Exact Answer To The Question? In every way, it is very hard to find out the exact number of wheels or doors. If, for example, you think about only cars, you have to consider it has four wheels and at least two doors. There are wheels in other vehicles as well. Furthermore, there are so many doors in houses, furniture, etc. On the other hand, there are also wheels in toys like Hot Wheels and Legos. Realistically speaking, the numbers are just too much for a person to count, as they are infinite. Hence, we will not be able to give you even a close idea. How Many Lego Wheels Are There In The World? Image Source In answer to how many Lego wheels there are in the world, you will need to estimate the number of car toys Lego produces. In a year, almost 17 billion toy cars are produced. Lego has sold approximately 6 billion wheels until now. As per a 2010 report, we found that Lego produces 318 million tires every year. Despite all these data, it is still hard to find out the number of wheels in this case too. Summing Up  It is really hard to find how many wheels are in the world or even how many doors there are. Who knows! There can be billions of wheels and doors in the world. However, the best part about the question is that it is interesting and unique, and the post from where the question is inspired was a head-turner. Moreover, the post was funny, and the results were even funnier. Read Also: How Long Can You Go Without An Oil Change? What Type Of Vehicle Is Ideal For Off-Road Driving? How To Choose The Best Wheels And Tires For Your Vehicle?

READ MOREDetails
Motorist Coverage

What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

You may have wondered what your Uninsured Motorist Coverage actually entailed on your car insurance policy as a Tennessee driver. You may not have known, but insurance companies estimate that almost 15% of drivers are operating without insurance. If you are struck by an uninsured motorist, there is no way for you to recover money for damages, injuries, or pain and suffering that resulted from the accident. Therefore, many insurance companies — and a growing list of states — make Uninsured Motorist Coverage mandatory in their policies. This way, you are protected in the event that you are in an accident with an uninsured driver. What does my Uninsured Motorist Policy Cover? The specifics of your uninsured motorist policy will vary from company to company, but in the most general terms, you and your passengers are covered for bodily injury, property damage, lost wages, or pain and suffering. Additionally, the policy-holder will be covered in the event of a hit-and-run, where it is impossible to determine who the driver was, let alone if they were insured or not. Note that your uninsured motorist policy is not the same as an UNDERINSURED motorist policy, which will cover the difference between your injuries and the maximum of the other person’s policy. Bodily Injury Coverage If you or your passengers suffer personal injuries in an accident with an uninsured motorist, your policy will cover medical bills, lost wages, as well as pain and suffering. Without this policy, being struck by an uninsured motorist would shoulder each individual with the burden of a lack of coverage that was out of their control. Bodily and emotional suffering are often hard to quantify in a car accident, and therefore makes a personal injury lawyer indispensable to claim what is rightfully owed. If you or your passengers have suffered bodily or emotional injury as the result of a wreck with an uninsured motorist, it is suggested you consult with a personal injury lawyer in Knoxville, TN. Property Damage Coverage Property damage is easier to quantify than personal injury because it will reflect the values of repairs or replacements. Even though this is the case, there are still many nuances that you must navigate to ensure you get the proper reimbursement for your situation. Consulting with an attorney is the best way to ensure that your situation is fully rectified with your insurance company and that you or your passengers will feel fairly compensated for your accident with an uninsured driver. It was not your fault that the other driver was uninsured, and it should not be your financial burden. Am I required to have Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Tennessee? Yes, you are required to have an uninsured motorist clause on your insurance policy in Tennessee. Hopefully, you will never be required to use this coverage, but in the event that you must, you can rest easy knowing that you are properly covered even though the other driver was fully uninsured. A growing number of states legally require each insured driver to have this additional coverage, and Tennessee is one of these states. Read Also :  Along For The Ride: Passenger Rights In-Vehicle Accidents There Is A Pothole Problem In America – How To Protect Your Car From Damage? Feature image source: theandrewagency.com

READ MOREDetails
Quad Bike

Are You Thinking About Buying Quad Bike For Your Kid?

Every child's wish is to have one at some point in his childhood. Can you blame them? Just as you look at them, you will realize how exciting they look for us adults let alone that fun that kids imagine having on them. The million-dollar question that haunts most parents is- are they safe as they are impressive? What specifications do you need to know before getting this best birthday gift for your child? Let us give a brief overview of everything regarding these thrilling vehicles. If you are a parent that is concerned about giving your children high-performance machines, you can start with the smaller 49cc quad bike. They are safer and will ensure that your kids get a hang of riding these machines before progressing to bigger and higher displacement machines. Quad bikes for children need to be fun, exciting as well as ensure the maximum amount of security. If the quad bike is satisfying all those parameters, as parents, you need not be worried about them getting injured riding one. Here Is What You Need To Know Before Purchase: In recent years, children's quads have been increasingly successful. A 4 wheeler for 6-year-old will be one of the most memorable things from his childhood regardless of any present that you gave him. These four-wheel vehicles are the passion for motor enthusiasts and outdoor adventures, in any type of terrain. These vehicles are also very beautiful from the aesthetic point of view and we do not find any compromises in terms of design or functionality even though they are produced for children. The manufacturers of vehicles for children have immediately launched many models to amaze our children and their parents. From their earliest age, they have the opportunity to imitate the maneuvers that their father or uncle is able to do with the real quad. We need to take careful consideration of the fact that these machines are very close to being or are identical to the real quad-bikes. There are even models with internal combustion engines, but they are dedicated to older children. Nevertheless, what you are probably interested in are four-wheelers with an electric motor ranging from 6V for smaller kids to 12V models that are able to reach speeds a little higher than every 10-year-old child would give everything to have. Many models follow the lines of the already famous quad bike models. Others replicate the design of automobiles and cars, and there are even models that have designs and colors dedicated only to the girls, while still others have a futuristic look and seem to come out of one of those post-apocalyptic films. In terms of engineering, the smaller quad vehicles come with low-pressure tires, and steering the quad is enabled through manual handlebars. In engineering terms, the smaller quads are quite a marvel in terms of design and handling capabilities. Most of the vehicles on the market for children can be enjoyed and operated by one person only (they are equipped with one seat). However, there are a few optional extras and models where customers can have the extra seat option available. If we are to compare the smaller quads, which have specifically been built for children to enjoy with the quads of their adult counterparts, we find that in addition to enjoying them for adventure sports, adults often use the practical machines for farm use. If you are wondering about how efficient these quad machines are and are somehow concerned about their energy consumption, we would be happy to point out that unlike similar machines for adults, manufacturers engineer the smaller quads in a way, that they consume significantly lesser energy on account of their smaller engines (lesser cubic capacities). The Best “Toy” That Your Child Will Ever Have: Children who are new to the field of riding are usually between 4 and 7 years old, while children with more experience are usually between 8 and 12 years old. While these age groups are merely a consideration, consider your child's experience and level of maturity when driving a vehicle before committing to purchase one. Electric quads maintain a lower throttle and speed limit, with a better driving experience. It is also advisable to check the reliability of the electric brakes, the high-speed locking options, and the padded handlebar, especially for the amateurs. Many kids are more geared towards exploration and adventure than others are. Some of them are even daring enough to take these vehicles out at night to explore newer terrains, and experiences. For such adventurers, manufacturers have armed the machines with nightlights and reflectors that end up guaranteeing not only a more satisfying experience but more importantly, they ensure a far superior level of security. Other important safety features to consider are speed limiters, controlled access through a key ignition, remote control, or switches. Depending on your needs, there are specific models that allow additional add-ons such as an extra seat for the passenger or additional storage space. In the end, I know very well what you might be thinking right now. Since that there is no reason not to buy such an amazing gift for your child if you can afford it, the only worry that you might have is the overall safety of your child while on the road. However, we would like you to remember, that with such safety measures with only one click the bike can be turned off and everything that has been done to improve these machines in the present is oriented to their safety. The most important thing for a parent is to ensure the utmost security for their loved ones. With this in mind, we strongly suggest investing in added accessories and other safety add-ons like helmets, riding gloves, protection pads for the elbows and knees, and any other requirement that would be individually suited to your child. If you really want a child to feel special, a quad bike is definitely going to crown you undisputedly, as the coolest parent in the neighborhood. Read Also: Ways To Improve Children’s Parties How Does It Feel Like Riding A Bike As Your Passenger?

READ MOREDetails