The WhyFILES from the University of Wisconsin are choice treatments in web style of informative subjects. The most recent topic is “Thumbs down! Texting + driving = disaster on the road.” A feature in this treatment of the dangers is the 2008 Chatsworth, California head-on train wreck that killed 25 people. An animation of the two trains and their respective warning signals is included in a linked report from the National Transportation Safety Board.

Other information in this WhyFILE includes this summary of stats:

Cellphoning behind the wheel (and its evil twin driving while texting) are major elements of the problem of distracted driving, which is blamed for at least one-quarter of highway accidents. According to an estimate from the American Automobile Association, distractions cause between 4,000 and 8,000 crashes a day. Other distractions include searching for a candy bar, lighting a cigarette and swatting flies.

On the same subject, the New York Times has an article today called, “At 60 M.P.H., Office Work Is High Risk.”