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Jerry Data & Research
Is texting and driving worse than drinking and driving?
I’m a senior in high school, and I’ve got a big presentation coming up. I’m putting together statistics on texting and driving and hoping to find some information that would be really convincing. It seems like everybody agrees that drinking and driving is wrong, but most of my classmates are a bit more relaxed about texting and driving. Which is more dangerous: texting and driving or drinking and driving?
Samuel Todd · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
It’s great that you’re doing thorough research on such an important topic! Here’s the bottom line. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), texting and driving is worse than drinking and driving in terms of danger.
In fact, the NHTSA found that texting while driving can be six times more dangerous!
Most people frown upon drinking and driving, but people’s attitudes toward texting and driving are a little more relaxed. An AAA study found that 96% of drivers knew that texting and driving was dangerous or very dangerous, but 44% admitted to doing it anyway.
Here are a few more statistics to think about (hopefully, these will help out with your presentation!):
- 25% of all car accidents in the U.S. are caused by texting and driving
- Drivers who text react three times slower than drivers who drink
- 11 teenagers die every day due to texting and driving
While your classmates may not believe the worst-case scenario could happen to them, texting and driving is also a ticketable offense. Fines vary by location, with Oregon doling out the most expensive punishments—**$1,000 texting tickets**.
Tickets will also cause your
car insurance
rates to increase. With marks on your driving record, you’ll be categorized as a high-risk driver and pay an elevated insurance rate for several years. So, is sending that text really worth it? Wait until you arrive at your destination to send that text. And while you’re on your phone, download the
Jerry
app for free to save up to $887 a year on car insurance.Jerry is an insurance comparison app that shops for low prices with over 50 insurance companies for free. You will get quotes in seconds, and if you ever have any questions, agents are just a text away.
MORE: How to get cheap insurance for young drivers
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- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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