How is Distracted Driving Affecting your Life?

We have all heard the message about distracted driving multiple times on TV commercials, radio commercials, newspapers, and anywhere you can find an advertisement. From a police officer giving a ticket to Jordan Spieth putting his phone in a glove box, the message comes in different forms.

But for a lot of people the question remains, is distracted driving really that dangerous? It just doesn’t seem like a big deal to send a quick text while you’re driving. Is it dangerous, or is it something else the government is exaggerating?

Here are some statistics to help you make your decision:

1. The use of a cell phone while driving leads to 1.6 million car crashes a year.
2. 1 out of every 4 car accidents are caused by texting and driving.
3. 11 teenagers a day are killed because of texting and driving.
4. If you use a cellphone, you spend 4 times as much time with your eyes off the road while driving.

And if you think distraction is only important for those behind of the wheel of a car, think again:

1. Pedestrians who use their phone while walking on roadways are 4 times more likely to disobey traffic laws.
2. Pedestrians using their cell phone take 2 seconds longer to cross the street.

Now you may be thinking, texting and driving isn’t something I do, so distracted driving isn’t a problem for me. That, unfortunately, is a myth.  The NAS has listed the 5 most dangerous things you can do while operating a vehicle. Here’s a quick summary:

1. Operating a car radio while driving doubles the risk of a crash. It’s no longer as simple as flipping a dial. With satellite radio, blue tooth, and many other devices ready to get sound to your phone, finding that perfect road trip song can be extremely dangerous.
2. Using a touch screen menu. We all know how to use one, but using one while driving increases your chance of an accident by 4.6.
3. Texting while driving. This is the obvious risk, but it is very prevalent and will give you a 6.1 times more likely to have an accident.
4. Reaching for an object, say your cell phone, which has slipped off the seat, makes you 9 times more likely to have an accident. If something falls through the cracks, wait until you stop to find it.
5. Typing in a cell phone number for a call makes you 12.2 times more likely to have an accident. Whether hands free or not, entering a phone number is your greatest risk of having an accident.

So how does distracted driving affect your life? Even you if are perfect, and never focus on anything other than the road while driving, there is a high chance that someone around you is distracted and can cause an accident. It is important not only for you to pay attention while driving, but to encourage others as well. This will help reduce the risk of accidents, and create safe road ways for ourselves and our loved ones.

For more information or to find out if you can obtain financial assistance for a car accident you were a victim of, get in touch with Daryl T. Dixon Law today. We can pair you with a knowledgeable and experienced Paducah car accident attorney who can fight on your behalf and ensure the driver who caused your wreck never gets behind the wheel distracted again.