Take one simple step to reduce the risks involved in distracted driving.
Over the years, distracted driving has become a leading cause of car accidents in the United States, due in no small part to the ubiquitous use of smartphones. Love them or hate them, iPhones, Androids, and other gadgets have become a fact of life — and some say, a source of addiction. Cell phone use has become such a problem that many experts now blame their use for a surprising number of accidents each year.
As long as cars have been on the road, there have been distractions. Distractions are hard to escape – maybe a passenger is talking, music is blaring on the radio, a child is crying, or a driver is just thinking a stressful situation. But few distractions are worse than smartphones.
According to a recent National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) survey on distracted driving, a shocking number of people saw nothing wrong with using their phones while driving, despite a number of nationwide campaigns aimed at raising awareness at just how dangerous this practice can be. 48% of respondents said that they would answer their phone while driving, and another 58% said that they would continue driving with the phone in their hand after they answered the call. Fewer drivers admitted to texting while driving, with only 10 percent admitting to doing so — but of the people who texted and drove, 30 percent said it did not impact their driving.
The reality is that whether we are texting or driving or talking on the phone while driving, distracted driving impacts us all. While we would like to think that we can easily multitask, paying attention to our phone call or text message while still keeping an eye on the road, the reality is that our brains are simply not wired that way. When we pay attention to our phones instead of the road, the chances of an accident go up. Even momentarily glancing at our phones can result in a major crash.
As experienced car accident attorneys, we have seen what happens when people engage in distracted driving. There are far too many Americans who simply cannot put down their phones while driving. That is why for Distracted Driving Awareness Month, we are asking you to join us in a simple challenge.
For the month of April, each time you get behind the wheel of a car, we ask you to put your phone away. Remove the temptation of your phone in whatever way you can: power it off, switch it into airplane mode, or even put it inside of your purse and onto the floor of the passenger side. Make it inaccessible to you while you drive. Learn how to drive your car again without the distraction of your phone, and break the addiction of constant use of your phone. Over the course of the month, you may find that you don’t miss your phone — and that this habit is an easy one to keep.
This Distracted Driving Awareness Month, we hope that you’ll join us in spreading the word about the risks of distracted driving. Together, we can reduce the number of injuries and fatalities from distracted driving. If you have been hurt in a collision, the Law Offices of Larry H. Parker is here to help. Contact our office today at 800-333-0000 or info@larryhparker.com to schedule a free initial consultation. We never charge a fee unless we get money for you!
