Distracted driving creates high risks for motorists

June 20, 2013

Distracted driving is more of a risk than most people would imagine. In the United States, more than nine people are killed due to distracted driving every day, and more than 1,060 people are injured in crashes that involve a distracted driver, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additionally, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported, in 2011 alone, 3,331 people were killed in car accidents that involved a distracted driver and an additional 387,000 people were injured in accidents involving distracted drivers.

The CDC defines distracted driving as driving while also doing another activity. There are three basic types of distracted driving:
- Manual: involves the driver taking his or her hands off of the wheel
- Visual: involves the driver taking his or her eyes off of the road
- Cognitive: involves the driver taking his or her mind away from fully focusing on driving

The NHTSA website on distracted driving reports that distractions endanger drivers, passengers and bystanders. Distracted driving can include texting, using a cell phone or smartphone, reading, looking at maps and navigation systems, eating and drinking, watching a video or adjusting a radio.

Operating a cell phone while driving is a dangerous distraction

Of all the different types of distracted driving, driving while using a cell phone is one of the top distractions. In fact, according to the Connecticut Post, the NHTSA reports that, at any given moment, nearly 660,000 people in the United States are talking on their cell phones while driving.

The NHTSA notes that texting while driving is the most dangerous distraction because it requires manual, visual and cognitive attention to be taken away from the road.

In fact, according to a Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) study, sending or receiving a text message takes a driver's eyes off of the roadway for an average of 4.6 seconds, which is the equivalent of driving the length of a football field blind at 55 mph. The VTTI study also reported that texting while driving increases the risk of having an accident 23 times.

Device aimed to combat distracted driving

There are new devices on the market that make it harder for people to drive while talking or texting on their cell phones. According to the Connecticut Post, with one such device, when the driver shifts his or her gear into drive, the smartphone's screen turns into a picture of a winding road with the word "SafeRide" hovering over the image. While the car is in motion, even if the driver presses the screen or home button, he or she cannot disable the program. The screen will remain locked and the audio will remain muted until the driver shifts into park.

This program is compatible with most mobile devices. It consists of a two-and-a-half-inch by one-inch device that plugs into the cigarette lighter in the vehicle's console. The user's cell phone and the device are linked by Bluetooth technology. Phones that are hooked up to the "SafeRide" program work normally when their owners are not driving. The "Saferide" program does not interfere with the passengers' use of their cell phones.

If you or a loved one have been injured by a distracted driver, you could benefit from contacting a personal injury car accident attorney who can help you pursue compensation for your injuries.

Article provided by The Reardon Law Firm, P.C.
Visit us at www.reardonlaw.com