Final answer:
The correct answer to the question is that texting while driving is illegal for all drivers. It's a serious traffic safety concern due to the habit-forming nature of phone usage, which makes it difficult to resist even while driving. Texting increases reaction times and the risk of accidents. d) Illegal for all drivers."
Step-by-step explanation:
The law regarding texting while driving is not dependent on age but is generally consistent in its objective to prevent distracted driving, which is a leading cause of accidents. The correct answer to the question 'Sending or reading text messages while driving is:' would be d) Illegal for all drivers. This is in line with the nationwide efforts to enhance road safety and reduce distractions caused by mobile phone usage while driving. The legal penalties and enforcement may vary by state, but the underlying principle remains that texting while driving is a prohibited behavior for drivers of all ages.
Research, such as the one cited by Bayer & Campbell (2012), indicates that the habitual nature of checking our phones can make it difficult to resist texting even while driving. This habit, or 'event schema', as the psychologists call it, is powerful and often automatic, making it a significant challenge to overcome.
The effect of texting on driving performance, including the increased response time when dealing with road events, is a major concern. A study concerning this would involve measuring the reaction times of drivers under different circumstances, specifically comparing reaction times when they are texting to when they are not engaged with their phones. Texting while driving increases the response time necessary for a driver to react to sudden changes in traffic conditions, such as a leading car braking, thus elevating the risk of accidents.