Did you know that approximately nine people are killed daily just because of crashes linked to distracted driving? Distracted driving, which can include anything from looking down at a text to fiddling with the radio, causes a driver to look away from the road or get otherwise distracted from the task at hand.
Distracted driving significantly influences the chances of a motor vehicle accident, which is why it’s so important for drivers to avoid driving while distracted when possible.
Three kinds of distractions limit the ability to drive safely
There are three kinds of distractions that hurt your ability to drive well on the road. These include manual distractions, like picking up a cup of soda, cognitive distractions, like thinking about a fight you just had with a friend, or visual distractions, like rubbernecking as you pass a crash.
These three kinds of distractions sometimes combine to make a driver even more dangerous than usual. For example, texting takes your mind off what you’re doing at the same time as taking your hands off the wheel. It also makes you look away from the road, combining all three distractions into a few seconds of extreme risk.
Distracted driving crashes are continuing at a similar rate year to year
An average of 3,000 people die annually because of distracted driving collisions. Year-to-year data shows that though there are times when crashes and deaths decrease, they often rebound. For example, in 2018, there were only 2,841 deaths linked to distracted driving, but in 2019, that number increased to 3,142.
There are all kinds of distractions that may affect the way a person drives ranging from eating behind the wheel to getting distracted by a crying child in the vehicle. It’s normal for distractions to happen, but how people react to them matters. If you’re distracted, the best thing you can do is pull over and handle the distraction before continuing on. Doing this could help prevent a serious crash and help save a life.
If you’re hit by someone who was distracted, they may be found at fault and can then be held liable for any injuries or financial losses you’ve suffered.