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Times are typical examples, not measurements. The distance is speed × time, the ground covered while your eyes are elsewhere, before any reaction or braking.
Why it matters
While your eyes are off the road, nothing you might need to react to registers: a stopped car, a child stepping out, a light turning red. When you look back, you still need your full reaction and braking distance on top.
Fun facts (and not-so-fun facts)
- Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.NHTSA, current guidance
- 3,208 people were killed and 315,167 injured in crashes involving distracted drivers.NHTSA, 2024
- For teens, texting while driving raises crash risk 23 times; dialing a phone raises it 6 times.NHTSA
Activity: the hallway text
- Mark a start line. A volunteer walks at a normal pace while reading a short text message aloud from a phone.
- Another person marks where they finish reading.
- Compare that distance with what the simulator shows at 25 mph and at 55 mph. Then talk about which distractions can wait until the car is parked.
Do this only in a clear, safe space with a spotter, never near traffic or stairs.
Questions people ask us
How far do you travel while reading a text?
NHTSA says sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that is about 403 feet, longer than a football field, driven blind.
Is it legal to use a phone while driving?
It depends on the state. Many states ban hand-held phone use while driving. In Michigan, drivers may not hold or manually use a phone, even at a red light.
