Distracted driving is still one of the most common causes of motor vehicle accidents in the United States. It is estimated to kill several thousand people per year. The concept of distraction may seem benign and it may not seem possible that something like distraction could cause so many accidents, but it certainly does. Here are some of the reasons why distracted driving is such a problem:
- It’s a triple threat of preoccupation. Distracted driving preoccupies your hands, mind, and eyes. It takes all of these parts of your body and cognition away from the task of driving.
- It undeniably leads to crashes. We know distracted driving is a problem because the statistics show that it is. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that distracted driving causes about 10 percent of deadly crashes and 18 percent of accidents that lead to injuries. AAA found in their research that taking your eyes off the road for 2 seconds will double your crash risk.
- It’s easy to forget how dangerous it is. We have our phones on us pretty much all the time. With how commonplace our device use is, it’s understandable that it’s hard to put the device away once you get behind the wheel. But doing so is critical to being a safe driver and preventing accidents.
While phones are perhaps the most obvious and pervasive source of distracted driving, there are others. For example, something as seemingly innocuous as daydreaming can be distracting to the point of causing a crash. Applying makeup, adjusting the radio, reading – these are all dangerous distractions when you’re behind the wheel. Do your part to prevent these crashes by pointing all of your concentration and attention to the task of driving.
Find Out If You Have a Claim Against a Distracted Driver
If you or a loved one was seriously injured in an accident caused by a careless, distracted driver, please search our directory for an experienced lawyer in your area. During a consultation, you can find out what your options are for pursuing justice and compensation.
