A recent study showed that nine people die every day and more than 1,000 are injured in motor vehicle accidents caused by distracted drivers. In fact, a driver who is distracted is eight times as likely to get into an accident than a driver who is not. While you may not be able to prevent others from driving while distracted, you can take steps to spot distracted drivers.
Read on to learn more about how you can spot them. If you have been injured in a car accident with a distracted driver, contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.
Defining distracted driving
It is common for a person to think of distracted driving and only think of a person on their mobile device. The truth, according to the U.S. Department of Transport’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is that there are a number of common distracted driving behaviors that can affect how safely a person drives.
They include making and receiving phone calls, changing the radio station, using GPS, searching for CDs or anything else in the vehicle, sending emails, turning around to deal with children or passengers in the back seat, personal grooming such as brushing their hair or putting on makeup, and reading printed materials.
The statistics on distracted driving may shock you
A study of people across the country found that 48% of drivers say they answer their phones while driving. 58% of those people kept talking even when they were driving. 24% of those surveyed said they would initial a call while driving and 10% of drivers said that they send texts and / or email while they are driving.
Though many people associate distracted driving with one particular gender, the study showed that about 33% of drivers are “distraction prone” and that this number was nearly identical for both genders. Younger drivers are 64% likely to drive while distracted while older adults come in at only 5%.
Keep an eye out for these distracted driving behaviors
Once you know what to look for, it can be easy to spot a distracted driver. About 21% of distracted drivers say that they end up driving slower when they are distracted. About 24% lose awareness of the road, and around 11% said they swerve in and out of lanes.
Other behaviors that could indicate distracted driving include suddenly applying brakes, not going when a light turns green, looking into rear and side view mirrors frequently, driving erratically, not using their turn signals, not changing lanes when they should, and following the vehicle in front of them too closely.
If you have been in a motor vehicle accident with a distracted driver and have suffered an injury such as whiplash, a broken bone, or any similar injury then you likely have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. At The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker we invite you to contact us at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.
