Distracted driving is the act of driving while performing some other activity that takes your attention away from driving. As you would expect, distracted driving increases the chances of a motor vehicle accident in San Fernando Valley.
How Many People Are Affected by Distracted Driving Accidents?
According to a 2013 survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, drivers spend more than half of their driving time focused on things other than the road ahead of them. Distraction accounts for about 16% of all fatal crashes, contributing to more than 5,000 traffic fatalities each year. One of the most well-known forms of distracted driving is texting and driving, but texting and phone calls are not the only things that distract drivers. Even though use of electronic devices to text, talk, listen to music, or read email is a huge distraction, comprising about 7% of the distractions in the AAA Foundation study, many other distractions can have a similar effect; including passengers, eating, and in-car technologies.
In response to safety concerns and in an effort to reduce distracted driving, many states have enacted laws to prohibit certain types of cell phone use while driving. This includes California, which bans drivers both from texting and from using hand-held cell phones to make calls while driving.
Who Texts More While Driving… Adults or Teenagers?
Even though teenagers are among the drivers most compromised by distraction, the recent survey by the AAA Foundation found that 43% of adults ages 25-39 reported using a cell phone while driving, as compared to the only 20% of teenagers. This means that both teenagers and adults need to concentrate on the road while driving, in order to help avoid causing or being involved in a serious auto accident.
The VirginiaTech Transportation Institute found that texting, whether sending or receiving, takes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. That is enough time to travel the length of an entire football field at 55mph, which the driver is essentially doing blind.
As important as you think it may be, it can wait! Auto acccidents involving drivers using their cell phones are avoidable. No text message, email, website, video, etc… is worth jeopardizing your life or the lives of others on the road.
What Do I Do If I Was Injured By A Distracted Driver?
If you or a loved one has been injured in a serious car accident in San Fernando Valleybecause of a distracted or negligent driver, know that the law is on your side. Contact experienced car accident lawyer Barry P. Goldberg today to discuss your legal rights and potential for financial recovery.