RI Injury Attorney; the Dangers of Distracted Driving

With virtually everyone owning a cellphone, cellphones have become a major part of our everyday life, and while the benefits of cellphones are numerous, using a cellphone has also proven to be extremely dangerous.

Most people are aware of the dangers of texting and driving, and most people are probably also aware of the dangers of getting distracted while talking on cell phones while driving, even if people are talking on hands free devices.

What most people are not aware of is, that distracted driving has become more dangerous than drunk driving, and is now the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States.

In a matter of just a few seconds, a distracted driver can cause serious injuries or even death to themselves or others. In 2012, distracted driving accidents killed 3,328 people, an additional 421,000 people were injured. The number of injuries increased by 9 percent over the preceding year. Despite the known hazards and the fact that in many states it is illegal, people persist in using their cellphones while driving.

Studies show that drivers using phones to text are twice as likely to cause a crash as a drunk driver and are eight times as likely to cause a crash as other drivers. There are three main types of distractions:

• Visual – taking your eyes off the road.
• Manual – taking your hands of the steering wheel.
• Cognitive – taking your mind off what you’re doing.

A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that 69 percent of U.S. drivers between the ages of 18 and 64 reported recent cellphone use while driving. Nearly one-third additionally reported reading or sending texts while driving at least once in the 30 days prior to their study participation.