The Dangers of Distracted Driving and What You Can Do to Prevent It

Distractions while driving can be fatal if taken for granted. In fact, motor vehicle accidents are the major cause of death among teenagers. In the U.S, more than 1,000 people sustain injuries every day because of distracted driving habits.

Distracted Driving
Distracted driving seems to be synonymous with many motorists nowadays. There are three different kinds of distractions a person may experience while driving—manual, visual, and cognitive. Manual distractions are those that compel the driver to take his or her hands off the wheel. Visual distractions occur when a motorist averts their eyes from the road. Lastly, cognitive distractions usually shift the driver’s focus to some other thought, which causes many drivers to not be as alert or cautious on the road as they should be.

Texting While Driving
In today’s fast-paced digital world, mobile phones are reported to be among the most potential hazards that contribute to the greatest number of deaths around the world. Texting and driving comprise all three different types of distractions, making it a substantially fatal and hazardous habit that plagues the world. According to the U.S Department of Transportation, about 660,000 motorists use their phones while driving every day. Many people belonging to this group think driving while texting isn’t dangerous at all, but in reality, these are the very same people who often nurse injuries and sometimes even succumb to these injuries. Within five seconds of inattentive driving, a driver can’t tell for sure about the fate of the road. Anything can happen in those few seconds and turn to be extremely tragic, depending on the nature of the accident. It’s about time all drivers became extra vigilant and more conscious about the task of driving.

What You Can do to Stop Distracted Driving:

1. Give simple and clear instructions to new drivers
Whether you’re a driving instructor or a parent, provide new drivers with simple and clear instructions not to text and drive at the same time. Particularly when new drivers are about to get licences, explain to them the importance of good driving habits. Maybe your piece of advice will save another person’s life someday and, thus, stay forever grateful.

2. Lead by example
It’s a bad habit to text and drive. Set an example for others, especially your children or friends, by pulling over your vehicle to a safe zone every time you need to talk or text on the phone.

3. Educate other people
Educate your family, friends, and even staff members at the workplace about the importance of driving with zero distractions. Take the information to where your children go to school and ask that it be shared among students, teachers, and parents.

If you do happen to find yourself involved in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, seek the help of an experienced auto accident attorney from the Dinelli Law Firm. We provide free consultations and are passionate about helping victims of serious car accidents fight to get the compensation they need to get started on the road to recovery.