Distracted Driving FAQs
How does distracted driving cause accidents?
Raising awareness about the risks of distracted driving will hopefully reduce it as a factor in car accidents. Any distraction that takes the driver’s attention off the road qualifies as distracted driving.
The following are some frequently asked questions that people have about what distracts drivers.
What types of distractions can cause accidents?
Distractions can take on various different forms, such as:.
- Cell phone use
- Texting while driving
- Eating and drinking
- Applying makeup
- Talking with another passenger
- Turning to face a back seat passenger
- Adjusting a radio, GPS, entertainment or sound system
- Turning to grab an item from the back seat
- Smoking
- Focusing on the rear-view mirror
What percentage of accidents, injuries and fatalities result from distraction?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the statistics for distraction-affected crashes in 2020 were:
- 13% of all police-reported motor vehicle accidents
- 14% of injury crashes
- 8 percent of fatal vehicle accidents
- Approximately 3,000 deaths occur annually
Which type of distraction is the worst?
Texting is the most dangerous driving distraction. This is because it deprives the driver of manual control along with visual and cognitive awareness of the roadway. Researchers estimate that sending or reading a text takes the driver’s eyes and attention off the road for five seconds. When traveling 55 mph, that’s equivalent to driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. Driving requires your full attention.
What can you do to prevent distraction while driving?
- Don’t use your cell phone. Pull the vehicle over if you need to call or text.
- Avoid doing anything else while driving. No eating, drinking, smoking, etc.
- Stop multi-tasking. Don’t multi-task while driving.
- Limit the number of passengers. The fewer people in the car, the less the likelihood is of distraction.
- Program your GPS before driving.
- Encourage families and friends not to text and drive.
- Keep your eyes on the road. Train yourself to focus on driving.
- As parents, set a good example for your children by keeping your attention fully on driving.
What can you do to protect your teenage driver?
According to the CDC, distraction risks for teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17 grow less by limiting the number of passengers. Statistics showed fatalities due to distraction decreased by 21% when there were 0 passengers. It decreased by 7% when there was one passenger.
Should you hire an attorney if you are involved in a serious car accident?
You should seek legal help if you suffer serious injury, if your vehicle has significant damage or if have lost a loved one in a car accident. Based on New York Insurance law, if the other driver was at fault and your damages meet the serious injury threshold, you can sue for compensation. An experienced car accident lawyer can guide you through the legal process and protect your rights. To arrange a free consultation, contact Fazzinilaw.com. Call us at 631-547-8989.
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