Lexus Can Change Your Mind About Texting and Driving In 4.6 Seconds

How long do you think it takes to glance at a text message when you’re driving? One second? Two seconds? You’re not alone.

Most drivers believe that texting and driving creates only a momentary distraction. Today on April 6, or 4.6, Lexus has released a new video to shatter this common misconception.

The average length of time it actually takes to send or receive a text message when you’re behind the wheel is 4.6 seconds, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

In the new video called “Driving Disrupted,” Lexus demonstrates exactly what happens when drivers can no longer see the road for 4.6 seconds. Participants get behind the wheel of a Lexus NX on a closed course, thinking they’re taking the vehicle for a routine test drive.

What they don’t know is that they’re not driving an ordinary NX. They’re driving a one-of-a-kind specially modified vehicle called the NX 4.6. It’s equipped with electrochromic technology that turns the windshield and windows from transparent to opaque instantaneously, completely obscuring the driver’s view for 4.6 seconds. The video captures the chaos that ensues. Click HERE to view the video for yourself.