In an increasingly complex world it's becoming more difficult to focus on the task at hand. That's right we're talking about driving. Many of you who are reading this right now have most likely sent a text while driving. Hopefully, few of you are habitual offenders though.
To some of you offenders might seem like a strong word to use in this instance. But as you'll quickly learn, texting can be fatal and BMW is not shy about their anti-texting-while-driving stance. As they boldly state on their company website, "WHEN THE ENGINE STARTS THE TEXTING STOPS."1
The fact of the matter - one which BMW is adamant about - is that texting while driving is fast becoming a greater on-road risk than drunk driving. And, we all know drunk driving has ended and/or severely compromised an indecent number of innocent lives.
Think teens are the biggest culprits of texting while driving? Well, you're certainly not alone. But, that doesn't mean you're right, either. You'd be better off to look at your closest circle of friends. According to BMW, "...almost half of all adults admit to texting while driving, compared to only 34% of teens."2
Don't think texting while driving is that big a deal? Trust you can handle the multitasking required? We have a hard-hitting stat from the American Automobile Association that might change your mind. According to the association's findings, looking away from the road - even for as little as two seconds - doubles the risk of an accident.
To help people drive safer, BMW offers four critical suggestions. Perhaps the easiest rule is simply turning off our phones before we turn on our cars. If that doesn't seem like a viable option, consider adopting one or more of the German automaker's alternative safe practices listed below.
- Tempted to use your cell if it's in sight? Toss it someplace you won't be able to get a hold of it while driving (i.e. the trunk).- When taking longer trips, advise family, friends and co-workers you'll be without service for XX days (or XX hours), preventing a deluge of calls and/or unnecessary worry.
- Take advantage of advanced in-car technologies to safely communicate and navigate while traveling. In new BMW cars, crossovers, and convertibles; this can be text-to-speech capabilities, Bluetooth, MyInfo, and other high-tech connectivity features.
Interested in more BMW news and best practices? Stay tuned. Autohaus BMW, located at 3015 S. Hanley Rd Saint Louis, MO, is dedicated to keeping you informed.
Source: 1,2http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/Experience/Events/DTAD.aspx
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