Distracted driving is a leading cause of road accidents. Texting is one of the most common forms of distracted driving. If you are a driver, you may have seen other drivers texting while driving. You may have even found yourself texting while behind the wheel. Doing this puts you and other road users at risk. Not to mention, it’s illegal in all but two states (Missouri and Montana). Let’s take a closer look at this phenomenon and talk about ways to stay safe.
A Look at the Numbers
Texting and driving is a significant contributor to accidents on the road. When you text behind the wheel, you take your eyes off the road, hands off the steering wheel, and mind off driving. This means that you are not fully focused on driving. You are more likely to overlook potential hazards on the road. To underscore the urgency of this issue, let’s take a look at some real-world facts about texting and driving:
- Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for approximately 5 seconds, during which time you will cover the length of a football field when driving 55 mph.
- About 400 fatal crashes occur each year as a direct result of texting and driving.
- In 2019, over 3,100 people were killed and about 424,000 were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver in the United States.
- Drivers who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in a car accident.
Signs That a Driver May Be Texting
As a responsible driver, the obvious solution to being safer on the road is not to use your smartphone while driving. If necessary, install an app that blocks notifications and phone calls while driving. However, you can’t control what other drivers are doing, and it can be hard to tell if someone else behind the wheel is texting. Here are some signs to look for:
- Frequently glancing down while driving
- Moving erratically between lanes of traffic
- Slowing down or speeding up randomly
- Failing to use turn signals when turning or changing lanes
- Not responding to other drivers on the road
- Driving at a much slower speed than usual
- Observing the glow of an electronic device inside the car (at night)
If you observe these behaviors from another driver, there’s a reasonable chance that they are texting while driving or are otherwise engaged in distracted driving. To reduce your crash risk, keep a significant distance between yourself and that driver and be prepared to adapt to any sudden or unexpected movements. Better yet, pull off the road or try to take a different route.
If you are injured in an accident due to a distracted driver, you may be eligible for compensation to cover your injuries and other losses. Our legal team can help you through the process of filing a personal injury claim. Call our offices to schedule an appointment.
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