How bad is distracted driving? Distracted driving is extremely hazardous to the safety of all motorists and is responsible for injuring and killing thousands of individuals every year due to cell phone use, eating and drinking, conversations with passengers, and more.
If you have suffered injuries because of a distracted driver, reach out to a Charlotte car accident lawyer to take legal action.
What is Distracted Driving
While drunk driving is easy to define and understand due to its strict codified laws and measurements, distracted driving is more of a category of driver behaviors. Distracted driving is when a driver doesn’t give their full attention to the road and performs other actions while driving. Distracted driving is becoming an increasingly common occurrence that puts more and more drivers at risk.
Distractions can come in many different forms. These activities could include talking to their passengers, using the GPS or media center of their car, using their cellphones while operating a vehicle, or engaging in other behaviors that reduce focus and driving abilities. Vehicles often travel the length of a football field in a matter of seconds, so any distraction can become incredibly hazardous.
Since distracted driving is a serious problem, more and more actions are being taken by states across the country to discourage and prevent distracted driving. This means that, in addition to having to pay for any damages they caused, distracted drivers could also face serious legal consequences for their actions, including fines, license restrictions, and increases in their annual insurance premiums.
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The Three Categories of Distracted Driving
Distracted driving can generally be broken down into three main categories. Visual distractions are one of the most common forms of this behavior. This requires actions that cause a driver to look at something other than the road. This usually occurs when drivers look at their phones, GPS systems, passengers, or accidents or other stimuli outside of the vehicle. This can minimize reaction times.
Manual distractions are another form of distracted driving. This form of distraction occurs when a driver takes their hands off the wheel to do something else. Adjusting vehicle settings, eating or drinking, putting on makeup, and getting an item in the vehicle are a few examples of these distractions. This can minimize a driver’s ability to quickly avoid hazards.
Finally, cognitive distractions are the other common form of distracted driving. These distractions can happen when your mental focus is pulled from the road. If a driver gets lost in thought, daydreams, feels emotional, or is more focused on conversation, then they are experiencing cognitive distractions. This can significantly reduce the amount of time a driver has to register and react to danger.
The Extent of the Distracted Driving Problem in the U.S.
Distracted driving is a silent epidemic affecting the roadways of America. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) expounded on the dangers of distracted driving and reported that this behavior was responsible for over 315,167 injuries and 3,208 fatalities during the most recent year of available data. Furthermore, there is a 240% crash risk increase for those who are highly distracted by their phones.
Fourteen percent of distracted driving accidents are caused by using a mobile phone while driving. The FCC reported that 437 individuals were killed in accidents involving cell phones, and users between the ages of 25 and 34 made up the majority of these types of collisions. Even though cell phones aren’t the sole cause of distracted driving accidents, they do account for a significant portion of them.
Living in a technologically advanced world, it’s easy to understand why drivers are so easily distracted on a regular basis. There is so much stimulus all around vying for attention, both inside and outside of the vehicle, that it can be hard for drivers to maintain their focus. As such, many states are instituting stricter laws, running various awareness campaigns, and increasing law enforcement responses.
Time of Day Can Also Impact Distracted Driving Accidents
While distracted driving accidents can happen at any time of the day, there is an increased risk of accidents during times of day when traffic is higher. This generally coincides with morning and evening commuting hours. Weekends may also be another time when distractions may be more common.
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How to Prevent Distracted Driving and Accidents
There are several strategies that drivers can implement to prevent distracted driving. Taking these steps can mean the difference between life and death for you and other motorists. These are important habits to build for yourself and encourage members of your family to follow. It’s also important to remain alert and drive defensively to minimize the risk of injury from another distracted driver.
One of the most significant factors in distracted driving is cell phone use. While younger demographics use cellphones more while driving, this is a problem that can affect all ages. To this end, silencing a cell phone or putting it on driving mode can be one of the most effective ways to avoid distractions. Many states have laws that forbid active cell phone use or cell phone use altogether while operating a vehicle.
Another strategy to minimize distractions and crash risks is to keep any conversation during driving to a minimum. Speaking with passengers is similar to talking on the phone– it prevents your full attention from being on the road. Similarly, you can minimize food consumption by adjusting settings within the vehicle cabin, or any other activity that pulls your focus from the road while you are actively driving.
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Contact Shane Smith Law if You Have Been in an Accident Involving a Distracted Driver
If you or a loved one has been injured by a driver whose attention was not wholly on the road, the skilled personal injury attorneys at Shane Smith Law can help. Distracted driving is bad, and we can help you hold at-fault parties accountable for their actions. Our team has over 100 years of combined experience and can help you understand your options when you schedule a free consultation today.
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