You get a text message while you are in the car. You can feel your phone buzz in your pocket. You know that you should not check your text messages behind the wheel because texting and driving is a very common and dangerous form of distracted driving.
However, you are sitting at a red light, waiting for the light to change. As such, you realize that it would probably be safe to check your messages because you will not actually be distracted while driving. Once the car starts moving again, after the light turns green, you can just put your phone down.
Why this does not work
This is a common theory that people have, but it does not work. Drivers are not necessarily avoiding the distraction just by texting when the vehicle is stopped. If you do this, you could still be significantly distracted when the light turns green and you begin to drive through the intersection.
Exactly how long that distraction lasts can differ, but studies suggest it is much longer than many people realize—around 27 seconds, on average. You could still be facing mental or cognitive distractions, and you may overlook key details – such as a pedestrian entering a crosswalk – simply because you were looking down at your phone, even while the car was stopped.
Seeking compensation
It is wise to avoid texting entirely in the car. Unfortunately, even if you do, you could still be injured by another negligent driver in St. Louis, Missouri, or in Illinois. If this happens, be sure you understand all of your legal options to seek financial compensation.