Work watercooler discussion of the day: Which is more dangerous? 1. Typing a 10 word text message while driving 2. Driving under the influence with 0.12 BAC? (Legal in most states is 0.08) I say texting a 10 word text message is more dangerous.
Texting. It takes more of your concentration off of the road and surroundings. While driving with that BAC isn't good I think texting is more concentration impairing than that level of intoxication or BAC. IMO
Ill be the odd one out and say .12 BAC. But it all depends on the person (not so much the drinking but the texting). I can text without looking at my phone. And can drive fine with my knee. So, if I were to send a text driving (which I almost never do, especially since I got my CDL and got a bit wiser with age), the only issue I would have is if something were to jump out or fall in front of me to where Ill need to make a sharp turn in a split second. Texting and driving has ended many lives at way to young of an age, no doubt about it. But, drunk drivers have killed and been killed so many more times. I would never ever drive after even a couple drinks in a short time, even if I dont feel impaired and even if its a straight drive down an open road in day light. But, under the same conditions, I would feel ok sending a quick 10 word text, assuming there are no other cars around me, the road is straight, no other possible issues foreseeable (deer, kids playing, ect), not bad weather, not driving a tractor trailer, and has to be day light out. Im sure plenty will disagree, and please remember I almost never do text and drive, but if I had to do one of the 2, it would be text for sure.
As long as youre driving focused while youre under the influence (as contradictory as that sounds) id say its safer than texting. With that said, I try and not do either.
Being under the influence isn't something you can just set aside like a phone. So, I'm voting for the drunk driving being more dangerous.
0.12 BAC. many people, that is absolutely tanked level of drunk... and as others mentioned, that is not something you can go back and forth from with your concentration, it is there the entire ride.
.12=big buzz for most people and they usually fail all the sobriety tests pretty bad. I've arrested many .15's in that past couple of months and they come across pretty drunk. On the other hand, I pull over people all the time that are stone sober, yet are exhibiting DUI behavior b/c they are texting or messing with their GPS units.
Another great point. There is no "save" point when driving drunk. Sending a 10 word text only takes seconds. Sure, only takes fractions of a second sometimes for things to go wrong, but there are less of them in the 10 word text vs. the drunk drive. Again, Im not saying texting and driving is safe, just safer then the other option in my opinion. Now, if its my grandmom, who never sent a text in her life, doing the texting, that might be worse!
That's what makes it a good question. I know you probably see more of both then the average guy but it is just for fun.
lol, I was thinking that's just getting started. Of course that's sitting around a camp fire not driving anywhere.
If my BAC were .12 and I somehow made it to the driver's seat of a vehicle... ya'll better be very afraid! :D I put in a lot of miles (like going up to Chicago once a week) and what really kind of freaks me out is the driver who is all over the place and when you make a run to pass them... they're not on the phone or texting, they're staring straight ahead and they just seem to suck that bad at driving.
