Cell phones are truly wonderful devices. They let us connect instantly with friends and family. We can record the precious moments in our lives with video and pictures. It's even possible to access bank accounts from anywhere. The presence of cell phones isn't all positive, however. Though the possibilty of AI will help allieviate this concern.
The Dangers of Cell Phones
When they gained popularity in the early 2000s, cell phones started distracting drivers. People talking on their devices paid less attention to the road and created a widespread and real threat.
Cell phones and text messaging then evolved. People began sending messages behind the wheel, sometimes under the pretense that it was safer than talking on the phone. This, of course, isn't true at all—and more than 3,000 people die in accidents involving text messaging.
There's now another threat lurking along America's roadways: social media while driving. Instead of calling, people (young adults especially) browse sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. In fact, 70 percent of people have admitted to using smartphones while driving.
The Most Popular Posts While Driving
A shocking number of people are taking pictures behind the wheel. In fact, the hash tag #whiledriving has thousands of results on both Instagram and Twitter. Erie Insurance completed an in-depth study on distracted driver accidents and found that the most #whiledriving posts came from Texas, California, and Florida. South Carolina and New York finish out the top five.
The research determined that #whiledriving was most often associated with things from nature. Clouds, sunsets, skies, and trees were enough reason for thousands of people to take their eyes off the road and put others at incredible risk.
There are numerous social media applications to choose from, but some are more popular for distracted drivers. Texting and sending emails are the most common offenses, but social activities aren't far behind.
Twenty-seven percent of people who drive while using social media were posting or scrolling through Facebook. This is particularly alarming, because the site includes many videos and text-heavy posts that require additional concentration. Some individuals have shared articles, written updates, and participated in groups while behind the wheel.
Twitter and Instagram
These sister sites are tied for second place. Both have a reported user base of 14 percent (of people who use social media while driving). Instagram is entirely picture-based, meaning the individual must take his or her eyes off the road to take selfies and choose filters. Twitter also has many images, but most tweets require reading—and call for even more concentration that should be devoted to the road.
Snapchat
This platform lets users send temporary pictures of themselves. The main attraction for most users is the selection of filters, which change every day. Most are animated and become superimposed over the user's face when the app is open. This change is in real time and requires significant attention to operate.
Selfies and Video Chatting
Although they're not actually social media, many selfies end up posted online—17 percent of the while-driving users admitted to taking pictures of themselves, and 10 percent said that they participated in video chats while behind the wheel.
Unfortunately, social media makes our roads more dangerous than ever. When you're driving a vehicle, put down the phone. Even the most important posts can wait a few minutes.
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