Distracted driving is being engaged in other activities while driving. It leads to thousands of fatalities every year. In fact, according to the NHTSA, 80% of all car accidents happen because of it. Moreover, 16% of traffic accident fatalities are caused by distracted drivers on US highways. Distracted driving is such a menace in the US that California drivers are banned from texting and talking on the phone while driving. Forms of distraction include texting, talking to passengers, and fiddling with buttons while driving.
Driving while using a phone is the most common cause of distraction on roads. For example, in a survey conducted in 2014, over half of all Californians admitted that texting while driving was the most fatal distraction. Reading that text from your loved one will take about 5 seconds. If you are going at a speed of 55mph, that is like driving through a whole football field with your eyes shut. If you or a loved one has been involved in a distracted driving accident in Los Angeles, contact an experienced car accident attorney there to receive all the legal help you need to get fair compensation.
Texting
People who answer calls or text while driving are
the biggest reason for driving accidents. The National Safety Council estimates
that 26% of all car crashes are caused by using mobile phones while driving.
Adjusting controls
You may want to turn on the air conditioner, adjust the music volume or switch off the radio. These small actions may look harmless, but they take your attention off the road for those seconds. That could determine whether you travel safely or get into an accident.
Talking to passengers
If you have a passenger, it is normal to converse
with them. You may also be tempted to look at them while talking but the most
important thing is to pay attention to the road. Looking at your passenger
seems like the right thing to do but it`s a huge mistake while driving.
Using GPS
We`ve become accustomed to using a GPS to get us
from one location to another. However, setting up a GPS route while driving or
looking down at the directions could lead to a disaster. If you want to safely
use a GPS, ensure it is placed where you can easily see it without glancing
down and increase the volume to listen to the directions.
Zoning out
It is very easy to daydream while driving on a long
trip or a familiar route. The mind easily goes on “autopilot”. You may even be
surprised to reach your destination without remembering the specific details of
the journey like hitting red lights or if the road was busy. Driving while
daydreaming is disastrous.
Conclusion
If you have suffered damages and losses from an
accident caused by someone else, don`t suffer in silence. Reach out to a
knowledgeable, experienced, and qualified lawyer to help you get fair
compensation so you can recover without stressful financial burdens. This way,
you can recover without worrying about medical expenses or any financial
losses.
