Alarming Distracted Driver Statistics Continue to Grow
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nine people per day are killed in the U.S. due to car accidents caused by distracted driving, and over 1,000 people per day are injured by distracted driving-related accidents. In fact, a startling 80% of the total car crashes across the country are attributed to distracted driving.
Distracted Driving Epidemic
Despite these statistics, a surprising number of people continue to engage in distracted driving practices. Texting on a cell phone is a major cause of distracted driving – 35% of teenagers admit that they have texted while driving. Their parents text as well; 10% of parents say they have had multi-text conversations while driving.
Those texts can result in a tragedy, for either the texter or someone else. Just three seconds worth of inattention can lead to an accident..
Many Types of Distracted Driving
Texting is not the only activity that causes distracted drivers to crash. Distracted driving refers to anything that takes your mind off driving significantly enough to impair your awareness of your surroundings. Being fully alert behind the wheel requires being aware of other drivers, other vehicles, traffic patterns, weather, and the environment.
In three seconds, a car could veer into your lane. A child could dart in front of your car. A boulder could slide down an embankment and onto the roadway. Drivers must be alert and aware at all times.
Texting is a subset of visual distraction, one of the primary types of distracted driving. Any object, event, or even a person, such as a passenger, that takes your mind off driving is a visual distraction. Staring at an accident as you go by, for example, is also considered a distraction.
“Manual distraction” refers to any object that causes you to take your hands off the wheel and your attention off the road. While picking up a cell phone can be a manual distraction, so can looking for a map or putting on makeup.
If you’ve been stressed, you may be subject to cognitive distraction, or any emotions or thoughts which cause you to become unaware of your driving. If you’re rehearsing an argument with a boss, or worrying about other life events to the point of not paying attention to the road, you’re driving while distracted.
Experienced Distracted Driving Attorneys in Pittsburgh
If you or a loved one has been hurt by a distracted driving accident in Pittsburgh, call Chaffin Luhana today. These cases can be complicated. Some may require investigation to discover issues of responsibility and liability. We are experienced distracted driving attorneys who will review your case at no cost to you, and fight tenaciously for the full compensation you are due.
Additional Resources:
- AmericaJR. TeenSafe Releases Top Distracted Driving Facts And Statistics For 2018 As Part Of Distracted Driving Awareness Month. May 3, 2018. http://americajr.com/news/2018/05/03/teensafe-releases-top-distracted-driving-facts-and-statistics-for-2018-as-part-of-distracted-driving-awareness-month/.
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Distracted Driving. https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/distracted_driving/index.html.