Last October, the country observed the National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Distracted drivers are not only a threat to themselves — they endanger their passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians, among others.
Nearly 3,000 people in the US die every year in crashes caused by distracted drivers. If you want to be a responsible driver, here are five tips on avoiding distracted driving.
At any given time throughout the day, 660,000 Americans attempt to use their phones while driving. These incidents result in 1.6 million crashes and 390,000 injuries yearly in the country.
Replying to a text message, changing your Spotify playlist, or checking your email may only take a few seconds, but that’s enough time to hit a cyclist, ram into the vehicle in front of you, or miss a stoplight. We highly recommend putting your cell phone away while driving.
Drowsy drivers cause an estimated 21% of fatal crashes, 13% of injury-inducing crashes, and 6% of all crashes. These figures might be low because there are inconsistencies in how states record fatigue or sleepiness in their crash report forms. Missouri and Wisconsin also do not have specific codes for such instances.
According to studies, drivers who got less than four hours of sleep the previous night are three times more likely to encounter a vehicular accident. They have the same crash risk as a drunk driver with 0.08 alcohol concentration. If you are feeling drowsy, we suggest you pull over and rest.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that eating or drinking raises the likelihood of car accidents by 80%. Eating or drinking drivers cause an alarming 65% of near misses!
Unless it’s a life and death situation, wait until you get to your destination before eating or drinking.
In the USA, the general rule is that the number of seat belts determines the number of allowed passengers. Legally, a car with five seatbelts can transport five passengers.
However, more passengers lead to a higher chance of distracted driving. As much as possible, minimize the number of passengers.
Baby seats and pet boosters or carriers do more than keep babies and pets safe from becoming helpless projectiles in a car accident. They also keep you from being distracted while driving.
According to a survey by the American Automobile Association (AAA), only 16% of dog owners transport their pets using recommended restraint devices. Unrestrained pets create driving hazards. Before you transport them, make sure to use proper safety restraints.
Distracted driving has unnecessarily taken so many lives over the years. Driving is an activity that deserves your full attention — controlling a machine that weighs thousands of pounds is serious business. If you want to minimize the risk of vehicular accidents, avoid distracted driving at all costs.
If you have been involved in a distracted driver car accident, or if you feel you are being blamed unfairly by your insurance company, contact a personal injury attorney right away. At Arthur Law Firm Co., LPA, our dedicated team will answer your questions about your auto accident and help determine your grounds for legal action moving forward.
Call our office today – (567) 280-5669.