Distracted Driving is Dangerous Driving

traffic sign: Stay Alert, Talk or Text Later

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nine people in the United States are killed every day in crashes that are reported to involve distracted drivers. In 2019, about 424,000 people were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver.

When we think about the term “distracted driving,” most of us immediately think of sending or receiving text messages while on the road. That is certainly one of the big culprits. Still, there are other ways we can be distracted while driving. Any activity that takes a driver’s attention away from driving is considered distracted driving.

Three main types of distraction

Visual: taking your eyes off the road
Manual: taking your hands off the steering wheel
Cognitive: taking your mind off driving

Using hands-free technology can lead to distracted driving if you’re thinking more about conversations than the road or other cars. In addition to other vehicles, there are many other things you need to pay attention to while driving. According to the CDC, about one in five of the people who died in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2019 was not in a vehicle. They were walking, riding their bikes, or were otherwise outside of a vehicle.

In today’s world, where we are constantly in contact with someone in our lives, it can be tempting to try to maintain that contact while we’re driving our cars. Maybe you have an important project at work with a looming deadline, or some other reason you might think it’s too important to wait until you’re not driving. We need to train ourselves to not multitask while driving. Nothing is more important than your or someone else’s life.

Being vigilant about not driving while being inattentive can help make the roads a little bit safer and can possibly save a life. Remember, though, that it doesn’t mean that other drivers are being as responsible. You can still be injured by a distracted driver. Most states have laws specifically addressing distracted driving. If you are injured by a distracted driver, our experienced attorneys can help you receive the compensation you deserve. Call our offices to schedule a consultation.