Avoiding Accidents in Citrus Heights
I’m Ed Smith, a Citrus Heights personal injury lawyer. Most drivers are aware that they face challenges when they are behind the wheel of a vehicle. With more rainy weather on the way, those challenges are compounded by slick roads, fog and reduced visibility.
With these increased roadway difficulties, drivers are responsible for doing their best to keep themselves and everyone who uses roadways safe and avoid dangerous accidents. As such, one of the simplest and most effective ways to increase the safety of roadways is simply to make sure that you are paying full attention to the road.
A Rising Problem
It’s a timely moment to make the decision to avoid driving and texting. Multiple government agencies including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that it is becoming more and more clear to police officers that distracted driving is a widespread primary cause of auto accidents resulting in traumatic injuries and vehicle occupant fatalities.
NHTSA reports that over 3,000 U.S. lives are lost every year in distracted driving accidents and estimates that 1 in 4 accidents involve drivers who aren’t paying full attention to the road. The agency also reports that 660,000 drivers use their phones while driving during daylight hours in the U.S. every day, creating an “enormous potential for deaths and injuries.”
Dangerous Texts
While driver distraction can include any activity that diverts a motorist’s attention from the road and includes things like drinking beverages, eating food, talking to vehicle passengers, and more, the most alarming distraction is, by far, texting. Reading or sending one text message takes around 5 seconds to do. This means that if a vehicle is traveling at just 55 miles per hour, it will cover the length of an entire football field before the text is sent or read.
Watch Youtube Video – Texting While Driving is Like Driving Blind ~
How to Help
The NHTSA recommends different methods of curbing this dangerous problem. Teens are often the best messengers to other teens and can make social media posts or talk with their friends about the issue. Teens are also encouraged to get involved with Students Against Destructive Decisions, which has chapters all over the nation.
Parents can help by leading by example. Avoiding distracted driving not only makes you and others safer, it creates a culture that discourages dangerous driving actions. Parents can also talk to their kids about why texting behind the wheel is dangerous and can cause serious injuries or even death.
Another way to promote safety is to download an anti-distracted driving app. The DMV recommends some apps that curtail driver distraction on their website.
More Articles by Ed Smith, a Personal Injury Lawyer in Citrus Heights ~
Citrus Heights Car Accident Lawyer & Personal Injury Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Citrus Heights personal injury lawyer. Reckless drivers can be held financially responsible for their actions. If you or somebody you know has been hurt in a collision, please call (530) 392-9400, (800) 404-5400, or visit AutoAccident.com for free, friendly advice.
For more than 35 years, I’ve assisted the people of Citrus Heights with receiving the repayments they rightly deserve in cases of wrongful death and personal injury.
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I’m a member of the national group known as the Million Dollar Advocates. Every forum trial attorney has won at least $1 million for their clients by settling cases or winning verdicts.
See a listing of my Verdicts and Settlements here.
AutoAccident.com is the best Northern California site for accurate reporting and detailed information on car accidents and injuries.
Image: “phone use” by rawpixel via CreativeCommons0
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