Why do people text and drive? A little restraint can save lives

 Texting and driving are a lethal mix. We know that. Even reading text messages or scrolling at the wheel can have disastrous consequences. Which is why police regularly send out warnings, but that doesn’t seem to have deterred motorists.

Every day, I see people using mobile phones and driving. They are not just talking on the phone. How can they be so callous? Why would they put their lives and others in danger? I will never understand.

Even using a hands-free device to answer calls while driving isn’t safe, so imagine the dangers of talking on hand-held phones. Studies say drivers using cell phones show greater impairment than intoxicated drivers. Little wonder texting while driving has become a major worry.

The chances of collision are 23 times greater while texting and driving, roadsafetyuae.com says. That makes texting the most dangerous activity while driving. Yet people do it.

Why is it? Mobile addiction. It’s real. “Nomophobia” is the fear of being without a mobile device. The US-based Addiction Center says, “People with phone addiction may experience anxiety, agitation, and disorientation if they are unable to use their smartphone”.

That explains the obsessive use of mobiles. Even driving can’t wait. They not just want to see the message, they want to reply too.

It’s easy to spot motorists using phones while driving. Their car wouldn’t stay in the lane and slows down so badly that others are forced to overtake them. The drivers would be glued to the screen. Imagine the trouble it can cause if the car is on the highway.

In 2024, 648,631 violations were recorded in the UAE for using mobile phones while driving, according to the Ministry of Interior. That’s worrying, so the police regularly run awareness campaigns and crack down on violators.

Violators face fines, black points, and vehicle impoundment. A motorist caught using a mobile phone while driving a Dh800 fine and four black points on their driving licence. In Dubai, there’s a 30-day vehicle impoundment too.

So, keep your phones away while driving.