Why Distracted Driving is Bad Driving
While it is easy to forget this in the day-to-day monotony of driving from home to work and then returning to home to sleep before waking to do it all over again, operating a car is actually a task that requires a lot of skill and concentration. For this reason, it can only safely be accomplished when a driver has his or her full attention on the road as distractions while driving can be extremely dangerous. And while some distractions are outside the control of a driver, many others encompass behaviors that are a choice and a bad one at that which continues to be reflected in research. According to statistics published by the National Highway Safety and Traffic Administration, distracted driving resulted in the loss of over 2,800 lives in 2018 alone.
What Exactly is Distracted Driving?
It is clear from the statistics that engaging in distracted driving can have dire results. However, it is also important to understand exactly what distracted driving is. This terminology equates to driving while doing any other activity that takes your attention away from driving. Examples of distracted driving include:
- Putting on makeup
- Eating and/or drinking while driving
- Adjusting the settings on a GPS or radio
- Interacting with passengers in the car
- Phone use
Why is Distracted Driving Such a Problem These Days?
There have been people who lacked responsibility on the road ever since cars have existed. However, there are far more distractions today than there once were. While all of the behaviors listed above and other forms of distracted driving are something drivers should avoid, the reality is that the invention of cell phones and the increasing usage of them has made distracted driving be especially concerning these days. In contrast to the fact that most forms of distracted driving require only visual, manual or cognitive attention, anything that requires attention on a phone – such as using social media, sending a text or checking an email inbox – draws a driver’s eyes, mind, and hands away from the road. And if you think it’ll only take a moment to check your text messages, think again. Alarmingly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has asserted that simply reading or sending one text at 55 mph requires about 5 seconds of visual attention which is enough time to travel the length of a football field.
Reach Out For Help After Your Accident
Whatever the specific form of distracted driving that caused the accident that resulted in your injuries, this kind of behavior is unacceptable and these injuries aren’t something you should have to deal with on your own. As the experienced Miami personal injury attorneys at Payer & Associates, we don’t think anyone should have to suffer the consequences of someone else’s negligence or reckless conduct and we have helped many people in these kinds of situations hold the responsible parties accountable. Our skilled and dedicated legal team can investigate the circumstances of the accident to obtain evidence that helps substantiate your assertions which can be used to craft a compelling case that gives you the best chances of obtaining the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to begin.
Resource:
nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving
