Distracted driving caused 3,142 deaths in 2020 alone. Considering this troubling statistic, understanding the dangers of distracted driving can help reduce car accidents and the potentially life-threatening injuries that they often cause.
Defining Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is defined as any activity that takes attention away from driving. Some of the most common distractions on the road include:
- Texting
- Talking on the phone
- Scrolling through social media
- Talking to passengers in your car
- Eating or drinking
- Adjusting the radio
- Adjusting the vehicle controls, like the mirrors
- Checking or adjusting a GPS
- Reaching to retrieve an item on the floor or in the backseat of the vehicle
- Smoking or lighting a cigarette
Types of Distracted Driving
There are three key types of distraction that can affect drivers: manual, visual, and cognitive. Manual distractions take the driver’s hands off of the steering wheel, visual distractions take the driver’s eyes off of the road, and cognitive distractions take the driver’s mind off of driving.
Some distractions fall under more than one of these categories. For example, talking on the phone can take both a hand off of the wheel and your thoughts off of the road.
Distracted Driving Statistics
Distracted driving statistics from recent years can teach us a lot about this risky habit.
- In 2020, 8.1% of all auto accident deaths were caused by distracted driving.
- A 2019 study found that drivers aged 15 to 20 were more distracted than drivers over the age of 21.
- Another 2019 study found that among high school students who drove in the past 30 days, 39% of them texted or emailed on one or more days.
- Distracted driving among drivers aged 15 to 17 is reduced when the number of passengers in the car is limited.
Being a victim of an auto accident due to another driver’s negligence can be devastating. If you were recently in a crash, contact the auto accident attorneys at Weldon & Rothman, PL to ensure that you receive your rightful compensation.