All of that can cause you to miss the driver who signaled and stopped, a child running into the roadway or a huge pothole in the center of the road.
You don’t have much time to stop. It’s hard to calculate precisely how much time there is to react because the weather conditions, the condition of your vehicle, your physical health and the road grade are all variable. However, if you are driving at 30 miles per hour, you will travel approximately 45 feet in about one second, according to the U.S. DOT. That’s less than several car lengths, which means you will likely have to hit the brakes hard and may skid.
Bicyling While Texting
Driving while texting has a high likelihood of trouble attached, and bicycling while texting is equally dangerous, particularly if it occurs when vehicle traffic shares the road.
Cyclists already face a number of issues when they travel the same streets as automobiles. There may not be bike lanes, which means that cars can come uncomfortably close, doors can open unexpectedly, and the same dangers that automobiles encounter – pedestrians dashing into the road, cars turning without warning, potholes – can crop up and cause disaster.
But add in texting, and you have a further hindrance to an already dangerous trip. Bicyclists often move at the same speed as automobile traffic, particularly in cities. The difference is the bicycle offers little protection if an accident occurs. It’s just you and air between the road, and if you’re traveling at high speeds, the results can be fatal. That’s why some cities and states have already passed laws prohibiting texting while bicycling, much as they prohibit motor vehicle operators from doing so.