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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Texting 'greatest driving risk' | Texting 'greatest driving risk' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Texting while driving impairs motorists more than being under the influence of drink or drugs, research suggests. | |
| The RAC Foundation asked 17 to 24-year-olds to drive in a simulator while writing or reading texts and found average reaction times slowed by 35%. | |
| Previous studies had found reactions were 21% slower among those who had taken cannabis and 12% slower among those who had drunk to the legal limit. | Previous studies had found reactions were 21% slower among those who had taken cannabis and 12% slower among those who had drunk to the legal limit. |
| The texters also drifted out of lanes more and had poorer steering control. | The texters also drifted out of lanes more and had poorer steering control. |
| The overall driving performance was poor among those tested by the Transport Research Laboratory, which also carried out the previous studies, the RAC Foundation said. | The overall driving performance was poor among those tested by the Transport Research Laboratory, which also carried out the previous studies, the RAC Foundation said. |
| Steering control among drivers in the text test was 91% worse, compared with 35% worse for those under the influence of cannabis. | Steering control among drivers in the text test was 91% worse, compared with 35% worse for those under the influence of cannabis. |
| 'Hazardous' | 'Hazardous' |
| Dr Nick Reed, senior human factors researcher at TRL, said: "When texting, drivers are distracted by taking their hand off the wheel to use their phone, by trying to read small text on the phone display and by thinking about how to write their message. | Dr Nick Reed, senior human factors researcher at TRL, said: "When texting, drivers are distracted by taking their hand off the wheel to use their phone, by trying to read small text on the phone display and by thinking about how to write their message. |
| "This combination of factors resulted in the impairments to reaction time and vehicle control that place the driver at a greater risk than having consumed alcohol to the legal limit for driving." | "This combination of factors resulted in the impairments to reaction time and vehicle control that place the driver at a greater risk than having consumed alcohol to the legal limit for driving." |
| RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister said the participants in the study had been almost unanimous in their view that drink-driving was the most dangerous action on the road. | RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister said the participants in the study had been almost unanimous in their view that drink-driving was the most dangerous action on the road. |
| "Yet this research clearly shows that a motorist who is texting is significantly more impaired than a motorist at the legal limit for alcohol," he said. | "Yet this research clearly shows that a motorist who is texting is significantly more impaired than a motorist at the legal limit for alcohol," he said. |
| "No responsible motorist would drink and drive. We need to ensure that text devotees understand that texting is one of the most hazardous things that can be done while in charge of a motor car." | "No responsible motorist would drink and drive. We need to ensure that text devotees understand that texting is one of the most hazardous things that can be done while in charge of a motor car." |