Distracted Driving Dangers in Stockton
While technology keeps us connected and helps people in myriads of ways, people need to stay off their smartphones and similar devices while they are driving. According to statistics from the federal government, 3,179 people lost their lives with 431,000 additional people injured in vehicular accidents across the nation in 2014 due to distracted driving.
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The California Highway Patrol released a reminder in March 2016 that the problem of distracted driving and the related deaths and injuries is 100 percent preventable. Law enforcement agencies define distracted driving as any time that you stop focusing on your driving by taking your hands off the steering wheel, glance away from the road, or stop thinking about driving. When you engage in another activity while you are driving, you increase your risk of an accident.
Please Put the Phone Down
Stockton distracted driving dangers are all around us. I don’t know how many times a day I spot a motorist, trucker, or pedestrian distracted on their phone while maneuvering the roadways.
Many people intentionally ignore the risks of texting while driving, but others simply don’t realize the dangers. Some people feel that the best time to connect with work, friends, or family is while driving. They might forget about the risks or intentionally use a device while driving.
Sadly, for some, it might take a tragedy before they put the phone down and drive.
Additional Statistics
The federal government provided the following additional information:
- One in 10 motorists between the ages of 15 and 19 were technically distracted when an accident occurred. This group has the highest percentage of distracted drivers.
- The percentage of drivers who were texting or using an electronic device rose .5 percent from 2013 to 2014, or from 1.7 percent to 2.2 percent. Drivers between the ages of 16 to 24 have a high rate of using an electronic device while driving.
- Estimates calculate that about 660,000 drivers across the nation or using their phone, tablet, or another electronic device while driving. This figure has remained the same since 2010.
- Other distractions behind the wheel include a wide range of activities, including changing clothes and brushing teeth. One in three motorists admit that they text and drive; 75 percent have watched others text and drive.
- If a driver texts while driving, his or her eyes are off the road for about five seconds. At speeds of 55 mph, a vehicle travels about the length of a football field during that time. Texting engages cognitive, visual, and manual distractions at the same time, which makes it especially dangerous.
- As of 2014, about 80 percent of all drivers owned smartphones, up from 52 percent in 2011. The largest increase in users is for those over 40.
Stockton Distracted Driving Injury Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Stockton auto accident attorney. A distracted driver might have caused a crash, injuring you or a loved one and changing your life forever. If you were the victim of an accident due to a distracted driver, call me now for free, friendly advice using my toll-free number at (800) 404-5400 or locally at (916) 921-6400. If you want to email me instead, use this link.
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