What is the danger of driving while distracted (such as texting)?

DISTRACTED DRIVING greatly increases crash risk because it takes your EYES off the road (visual), HANDS off the wheel (manual), and/or MIND off driving (cognitive). TEXTING is especially dangerous because it involves ALL THREE types of distraction at once. DMV/permit test. At highway speed, looking away for even a few seconds means traveling the length of a football field essentially blind. Many states BAN texting/handheld phone use while driving. Other distractions: eating, grooming, adjusting controls, passengers. The safest practice is to put the phone away and focus solely on driving. Understanding the dangers of distracted driving (especially texting) is a heavily emphasized, commonly tested safety concept.