Important information and helpful, recently released statistics for automotive accidents that have been caused by a distracted driver.
Just when the rate of auto fatalities and serious injuries was starting to decline in the US, distracted driving started to become a major problem. The prevalence of cell phones and other handheld electronic devices has become a big problem. Reading a phone text message is no safer than reading a book for people who are operating a car.
Cell phone use is not the only cause of distracted driving. Eating, have a conversation with passengers, or trying to groom yourself are also hazardous activities when you are behind the wheel. You have probably seen women fix their makeup, teenagers laughing and talking loudly, or men eating a fast food meal while they are behind the wheel. Most of us have probably engaged in bad driving habits from time to time. Since this has become an increasing cause of auto wrecks, it is time to realize how dangerous this might be.
To attack this major issue, the US government has set a website up at distraction.gov. It is meant to educate the public about the dangers of distracted driving. This site emphasizes the importance of keeping your eyes and attention on the road. It also has some detailed statistics about the dangers of distracted driving.
Distracted Driving Auto Accident Statistics
Consider some statistics from distraction.gov that will help you understand how big this problem has become. It should also demonstrate that any decrease in distracted driving can also reduce the number of accidents, especially serious ones, caused by drivers who are not paying attention to the road.
-- In 2011, there were over three thousand fatalities in US auto accidents that were caused by a distracted driver. Almost 400,000 people were injured in this same type of accident.
-- Ten percent of all reported US car wrecks in 2011 were a result of distracted driving.
-- It is estimated that well over half a million US drivers are operating a cell phone or other electronic device while driving at any time during the day.
-- Sending or receiving a text message takes the driver's eyes from the road for almost five seconds. If a car is moving at fifty-five miles per hour, it can travel the length of a football field during this time.
It should be obvious that eliminating this problem can reduce the number of road accidents. It can also lower the deaths and serious injuries, not to mention property damage, caused by these accidents.
The solution might partially lie in better enforcement. Since teens tend to be high-risk drivers anyway, and do more than their share of distracted driving, some states have cracked down on this age group.
Did you know that a quarter of teens say they send or respond to a text message every time they drive? Twenty percent of teens admit that they even have extended conversations while driving. Of course, ten percent of parents admit to the same behavior.
There have been increased efforts to crack down on different types of distracted driving.
-- Drivers under 18 might not be allowed to operate a vehicle with more than one other young person in a car for the first several months that they have their driver's license.
-- School zones may have signs up that warn drivers that penalties for using a cell phone will be increased.
Please refrain from driving while paying attention to your cell phone, navigation system, or even your buddies. If you are expecting an important phone call or text, pull over and handle it when you are parked in a safe place. The life you save could be your own.
