Selfie culture may pose a danger to drivers and passengers

People on the road depend on the drivers around them to obey the law. Every person has an obligation to consider the safety of the vehicles that share the road, and that includes keeping cellphones and other distractions put away while behind the wheel. Not everyone does, of course.

According to CBS News, car selfies are a hazard on the road.

Car selfie statistics

While most people agree that they pose a danger to themselves and others when using their apps, many do it anyway. Those most likely to take selfies while driving are between the ages of 18 and 24. The average age for those involved in a fatal accident because of cellphone use is 19 years old.

While over half of passengers report becoming nervous when drivers pull out their phones to take a picture, most do not ask the driver to put away the phone or stop so they can get out. Instead, more than half involve themselves in the picture. Many people choose to pull out their cellphones when at a red light or during slow traffic. In fact, only 12% of people do not use a cellphone while driving.

In the first four months of 2017, drivers made about 22,700 Instagram posts. There were about 68,000 pictures of drivers.

The hazards of distraction

In the five seconds or so that it takes to snap a selfie, a driver on the highway travels the length of a football field. Drivers who have their hands off the wheel and their eyes off the road may not have time to hit the brakes before an unexpected traffic situation. At high speeds, they may drift into oncoming traffic, fail to stop at traffic lights or veer off the road.

When it comes to motor vehicle accidents, about 25% involve a cellphone.