This is a special guest post from San Diego Accident Attorney Ross Jurewitz.

It is no surprise that texting while driving can lead to reckless driving and increase your chances of being in an accident, but is texting more dangerous than driving drunk?” According to a study published by “Car and Driver,” it is.

In June 2009, the American automotive magazine conducted the first real world test. Editors hooked up a Honda Pilot with a red light windshield, tested normal reaction times to a stop light between two of its employees at a speed of 70 mph, again while reading a text and braking, and when while slightly intoxicated (at a .06% blood-alcohol level – the legal level of DUI in California and most states).

Car and Driver performed each test five times, yet the conclusions were the same. Reaction time was much worse for both drivers when they were texting while driving than when they were driving under the influence of alcohol.

The results:

• Unimpared: .54 seconds to brake
• Legally drunk: add 4 feet
• Reading e-mail: add 36 feet
• Sending a text: add 70 feet

This study only tested reaction times on a straight roadway without any traffic and did not take into account additional delays due to distractions from traffic, road signals, or pedestrians.

In reality, none of this should be too surprising. Many of us have tried to send texts while driving – and still do it – even though texting while driving is banned in the state of California and 13 other states. Think about the amount of time it takes to locate your cell phone, pull up your text messages, read, ponder, and then respond. During all that time, your focus is away from the road.

Too many people have become too accustomed to checking email or sending a text while behind the wheel, even though its’s as dangerous as drinking and driving. Unfortunately, it may take more accidents and deaths to change that attitude, and the death toll among drivers, especially teens, will continue to grow.

The legal team at the Jurewitz Law Group doesn’t want to see more people injured or killed due to this senseless and risky behavior. That is why they, along with other lawyers from across the United States, have joined together to reach out to teenagers who are most at risk.

To help get the message out and reward those who have taken the pledge not to text and drive – including receiving texts from parents while driving – Jurewitz Law Group is giving out rubber bracelets (similar to the ones made popular by Lance Armstrong to fight cancer). Preventing death and injury from texting and driving is no less important.

Jurewitz Law Group’s organization, Teens Against Distracted Driving, is involved in California high schools and other youth groups, providing a “win-win” situation. They provide the bands for free the schools and organizations get to use them as fundraising tools to get their safety message out.

If you or your school would like to receive free bracelets to raise funds, contact Jurewitz Law Group, and they will help!

In Dallas? Visit Jeff Rasansky’s site, Drive Now, TXT L8R and take your pledge!

Do YOU know what to do after an accident? Get your FREE BOOK and be prepared!