Everyone knows texting while driving is dangerous. Yet crashes caused by distraction are still rising in 2025. Why? Because most people believe a handful of dangerous myths that make them think they’re the exception. At Rhodes Driving Schools, we don’t just tell teens “don’t use your phone.” We destroy the excuses with cold, hard facts and then replace the habit with something better. Here are the seven biggest myths we bust every single week.Myth 1: “Hands-free is safe.”Truth: Your brain doesn’t care if your hands are free. Conversation itself reduces reaction time by 37% (University of Utah). Talking to a passenger is safer because they stop talking when things get hairy. Siri never shuts up.Myth 2: “I only look away for a second.”Truth: At 90 km/h you travel 25 metres per second. A two-second glance = 50 metres blind (half a football field). That’s why 80% of distraction crashes happen within three seconds of the driver looking away.Myth 3: “I’ve done it a thousand times and never crashed.”Truth: That’s called survivorship bias. You’re not skilled; you’ve just been lucky. One unpredictable event (kid on scooter, deer, brake-checking truck) ends the streak.Myth 4: “Music and podcasts don’t count as distraction.”Truth: Anything that takes deliberate mental focus counts. Changing playlists or skipping episodes drops situational awareness by 20–30%. We test students with and without music on our closed course; the difference is shocking.Myth 5: “Teens are the only problem.”Truth: Adults aged 30–50 now have higher rates of phone-related insurance claims than teens. Experience creates overconfidence, not immunity.Myth 6: “I can multitask — I’m good at it.”Truth: The human brain cannot truly multitask safety-critical tasks. What you’re doing is rapid task-switching, and every switch costs 0.5–2 seconds of brain lag.Myth 7: “Just pulling over to answer is annoying.”Truth: The average text takes 4.6 seconds to read and reply. Pulling over and stopping completely takes 30–45 seconds. You’re choosing to risk your life to save 40 seconds.Real Student Turnaround“I thought I couldn’t survive without Spotify controls on my wheel. After the challenge I realized I actually drive calmer and enjoy the quiet. My mom stopped nagging and I feel like a better driver.” – Mia, 18
Distracted Driving Myths Busted: Why Phone Bans Aren’t Enough
Posted by Tom Dennis on Nov 25th 2025
