The DMV isn’t particularly happy that people are taking photos of themselves on NY roads, and in a statement released yesterday the department urged drivers to save the selfies for another time.
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A new study commissioned by the Auto Insurance Center researched geotagged Instagram posts to find that, statistically, 1.29 out of 100,000 drivers in NY posted behind-the-wheel selfies to social media using the hashtag #DrivingSelfie.
At any daylight moment, some 660,000 people across the country use cellphones while driving.
While texting and talking on the phone while driving are unsafe, there is evidence to suggest that taking photos is even more risky, especially when the photo includes the driver.
But now the center has revealed thousands are taking their own photos and uploading them on social media. Almost 40 percent of drivers on smartphones are using social media apps.
New Yorkers are ranked 8th in the nation – with about one driving selfie posted per 100,000 residents. The data was gathered over the last five years, with other selfie-obsessed states including California, Nevada, Hawaii, and, obviously, Florida.
NY is one of only 14 states – plus Washington, D.C. – to ban cellphone use by drivers.
A report by AAA says if you are going 60 miles per hour, your vehicle can travel the length of two basketball courts in the two seconds your eyes are off the road, and on your phone.
Videos can distract drivers for even longer amounts of time.
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“Smartphones can provide almost limitless entertainment, but activities like taking selfies while driving are just irresponsible”, DMV Executive Deputy Commissioner Terri Egan said. NY is among one of only 14 states (plus Washington, D.C.) to prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving, according to research by the Auto Insurance Center.
