The Dangers of Driving Distracted
Have you ever taken a drive down the road or freeway and have noticed a driver that fails to stay in their lane due to distracted driving habits such as texting? Distracted driving behaviors, which seem minor to some and major to others, can lead to the risks of automobile accidents that can cause traumatic and even fatal injuries to victims subject to these types of instances.
What is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is when an activity diverts the attention of a motorist from their primary task of operating a motor vehicle. Distracted driving is a subcategory of the reckless driving category for motor vehicle collisions. The state of California has passed Assembly Bill 1785 which prohibits the absolute use of mobile devices while driving. The bill goes into effect on January 1, 2017.
Types of Distracted Driving
The following activities comprise the types of distracted driving:
- Applying makeup
- Eating or drinking
- Communicating with passengers
- Grooming
- Reaching for an object in the cabin of the vehicle
- Reading
- Selfies
- Texting
- Utilizing a navigation system
- Watching videos
How Distracted Driving Injures Victims
As little as five seconds, which is the average time of a motorist’s attention being diverted from the roadway while texting, can lead to tragic automobile accidents. In 2014 alone, 431,000 victims were injured and 3,179 victims were fatally injured in motor vehicle accidents involving distracted drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 10% of drivers between the ages of 15 to 19 involved in fatal crashes were distracted at the time of the accidents.
Types of Distracted Driving Injuries
The following list of injuries can result from the distracted driving accidents:
How Can We Stop Distracted Driving?
The most effective way to bring an end to distracted driving is to bring awareness to all Americans about the dangers that distracted driving can bring on the roadway. Sources such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Official US Government Website for Distracted Driving can influence drivers through their powerfully persuasive evidence found in their facts and statistics. Visual evidence such as the video listed below can act as a motivating influence to detour a driver from engaging in distracted driving habits.
Watch YouTube Video – By: California Office of Traffic Safety – California Distracted Driving PSA
Merced Auto Accident Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Merced auto accident attorney and founder of AutoAccident.com. If you or someone you love has been injured in an automobile accident caused by a distracted driver, please call me as soon as you are able to at (209) 227-1931 for free and friendly advice.
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Photograph Source: By Intel Free Press via Wikimedia Commons
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