From iPods to GPS systems and cell phones, the list of things distracting people on the road these days just seems to be getting longer. Research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows people are almost as scared of distracted drivers on the road now as they are of drunk drivers.
In Des Moines Wednesday, NASCAR's Kyle Petty joined drivers from this weekend's Nationwide race at the Iowa Speedway to talk about the risks of distracted driving.
A study from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute shows simply trying to dial a number on a cell phone can almost triple your risk of getting in an accident. But texting seems to be the worst -- especially for people operating heavy equipment or trucks. The study shows texting makes them 23 times as likely to get in a crash." I don't care if you're driving a Bobcat or a lawn mower around your yard. You need to pay attention," says Petty, who said he lost a friend to a distracted driver one year ago.
And while people of all ages are guilty of distracted driving, the Virginia Tech study showed that young people are four times more likely to get in a crash because of their increased cell phone use. NASCAR driver Michael Annett, a 23-year-old Des Moines native says, "There's plenty of time in the day to send out texts or get on Facebook and just wait until you get your car in park and you're in a safe spot."
In Des Moines Wednesday, NASCAR's Kyle Petty joined drivers from this weekend's Nationwide race at the Iowa Speedway to talk about the risks of distracted driving.
A study from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute shows simply trying to dial a number on a cell phone can almost triple your risk of getting in an accident. But texting seems to be the worst -- especially for people operating heavy equipment or trucks. The study shows texting makes them 23 times as likely to get in a crash." I don't care if you're driving a Bobcat or a lawn mower around your yard. You need to pay attention," says Petty, who said he lost a friend to a distracted driver one year ago.
And while people of all ages are guilty of distracted driving, the Virginia Tech study showed that young people are four times more likely to get in a crash because of their increased cell phone use. NASCAR driver Michael Annett, a 23-year-old Des Moines native says, "There's plenty of time in the day to send out texts or get on Facebook and just wait until you get your car in park and you're in a safe spot."
