Dangers of Distracted Driving

Distracted drivers cause countless accidents every year in Florida. Yet many people remain unaware of how dangerous talking on the phone or failing to remain alert while driving can be. If you were injured in a crash because another driver was distracted or inattentive, the distracted driver may be financially liable for the injuries you suffered in the accident.

The Palm Coast distracted driving accident attorneys at Chiumento Law, PLLC, have seen firsthand the harm caused by distracted drivers. We want to reduce these preventable accidents by increasing public awareness of the dangers of distracted driving. Keep reading to learn more. Contact us to discuss your legal options if you need help pursuing justice after an accident that you suspect was caused by a distracted driver.

How Is Distracted Driving Dangerous?

Distracted driving is dangerous because it prevents a motorist from focusing on the road and surrounding traffic. Someone who does not have their eyes on the road, their hands on the wheel, and their mind alert to changes in traffic conditions puts themselves and everyone around them at risk. Even at relatively low speeds, a distraction that diverts a driver’s eyes from the road for a few seconds can be enough to cause a devastating collision.

What Are the Dangers of Distractions?

According to the CDC, there are three forms of driver distractions. Each has its own particular dangers. The three types of driver distractions are:

• Manual distractions– A manual distraction is something that takes one or both hands off the wheel. If a driver’s hands are not on the wheel, it takes more time for the driver to react in an emergency situation. That slower reaction may make the collision unavoidable.
• Visual distractions– A visual distraction causes a driver to take their eyes off the road and other traffic. If a driver cannot see what other motorists in front of them are doing, they could miss potential dangers in their path.
• Cognitive distractions– A cognitive distraction takes a motorist’s mental focus off the task of driving. Under the wrong circumstances, a moment of daydreaming can result in a lifetime of serious consequences.

What Makes Texting the Most Dangerous Kind of Distracted Driving?

Texting while driving is especially dangerous because it involves all three types of distractions. When a driver sends or reads a text message, the driver needs to take one hand off the wheel. They must take their eyes off the road to read the message. For the time it takes to read the text, the driver is not concentrating on the conditions around them. It is no wonder that texting drivers are particularly likely to be involved in an accident.

Distracted Driving Statistics – Top 5 Distractions While Driving

Some of the most common distractions for drivers include:

1. Daydreaming
2. Talking on a cellphone
3. Sending or reading a text message
4. Eating or drinking
5. Grooming or applying makeup

Research consistently shows that distracted driving is a serious safety hazard, as you can see from the following statistics:

• More than 3,100 people died and another 424,000 people were hurt in distracted driving accidents nationwide in one recent year, according to the CDC
• The CDC says roughly one in five people killed in distracted driving accidents nationwide that year were not motor vehicle occupants, meaning they were pedestrians, or cyclists.
• The CDC reports that in a recent survey, 39 percent of high school students who drove in the past 30 days sent a text or email on at least one of those days
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) reports that if you are driving at 55 mph, you will travel the length of a football field in the time it takes to send or read a text message.

Florida Distracted Driving Statistics

Distracted driving has become such a problem in the Sunshine State that the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) has launched a new campaign specifically to combat distracted driving crashes. According to a recent news release, there were more than 56,000 distracted driving accidents statewide in a recent year, 75 percent of which were caused by inattentive drivers.

Contact a Palm Coast Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer Today

If you have been hurt in a crash with a distracted driver in Flagler County or Volusia County, the team at Chiumento Law, PLLC, in Palm Coast is here to help you hold the at-fault driver financially accountable and demand full compensation for your injuries. Call us today or visit our contact page for a free consultation with a Palm Coast car accident attorney.