Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents in modern times. While entirely avoidable, the growing reliance on cell phones for communication has made this practice a hot issue over the last few years.
An average of eight people are killed each day, in the United States, in crashes that reported a distracted driver. To further stress the importance of this issue, around 1 in 5 of the people who died in a crash involving a distracted driver in 2018 weren’t even in vehicles.
Instead, they were often riding a bike, walking a dog, or enjoying another outdoor activity.
Anything that takes a driver’s attention away from the road could be considered a distraction. This could include sending a text message, changing the radio station, checking the GPS, or eating while driving.
These distractions can lead to a dangerous situation for the driver, their passengers, and any other individuals within the immediate area.
In most cases, distracted driving can be broken down into three main types of distractions.
While many different behaviors can contribute to distracted driving, text messaging is often considered the most dangerous simply because it requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the person driving. The human brain is often unable to perform simultaneous complex tasks effectively, such as reading while driving or composing a text message. Some drivers may also try to justify hands-free phone calls as a safe alternative; however, hands-free does not mean risk-free, and drivers should avoid cell phones until the car is parked.
Many states have enacted laws designed to help prevent the growing problem of distracted driving. Some of these laws include banning the use of a cell phone for texting while driving, requiring hands-free operation for phone calls, and limiting the number of passengers allowed to ride with teen drivers. Unfortunately, these laws are often hard to uphold because they require constant visibility and attentiveness by police officers.
Although the effectiveness of these laws is still in debate, drivers need to take a personal stance against distracted driving at all times. Until this personal choice is made, distracted driving will continue to lead to unnecessary injuries and fatalities, forever altering the lives of not only victims but their families as well.
If you have been injured in a car accident, seek medical attention for your injuries immediately.
After treatment, the experienced auto accident attorneys at Graves McLain will be here to help.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident that was not your fault, call Graves McLain right away. When you call one of our experienced Car Accident attorneys, we will speak with you for FREE and determine the best course of action.
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