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SALT LAKE CITY -- New research reveals of all the distractions on the road, one is by far the most deadly. Even with that risk, many drivers do it anyway.
In what may be first of its kind research, teams at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute used actual drivers to document distractions, smoking, sightseeing and talking on the cell phone. But the most dangerous?
The one that took drivers' eyes off the road the longest: texting.
The research showed that talking on a cell phone did not increase the risk of a crash, and dialing on a cell phone increased the risk by nearly six times. Reaching for a cell phone increased the risk 6.7 times, but texting increased the risk of a crash by a whopping 23 times.
Add to that AAA numbers that show while nearly 90 percent of people believe texting was a serious threat to their safety, 21 percent admit they still do it.
"What people know is dangerous and what they actually do, there's a disconnect because they do do it, and especially when you're driving," said AAA of Utah spokeswoman Rolayne Fairclough.
And especially when they're teenagers; half admit they text and drive.
In addition, 35 percent of drivers admit they less safe than they did five years ago.
Utah and a growing number of states have outlawed texting while driving, but safety advocates say it's up to drivers and parents of teen drivers to help change attitudes.
E-mail: dwimmer@ksl.com
