Distracted Driving the Culprit Behind Many Car Accidents

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, which hopes to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. New technology has made it all too easy to text, email, update social media or make phone calls while driving, which all increase the likelihood of a car crash.

There are three main types of distraction including visual, which requires taking your eyes off the road; manual, which involves taking your hands off the wheel; and cognitive, which is taking your mind off of the task of driving. Among the types of distracted driving, texting while driving is especially dangerous because it combines all three types of distraction.

In 2014, 3,179 people were killed, and 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. Each day in the United States, over 8 people are killed and 1,161 injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver. Many of these incidences involve the use of a smartphone.

Sadly, many distracted driving accidents involve young, inexperienced drivers. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that ten percent of all drivers ages 15 to 19 involved in fatal crashes were distracted at the time of the crash and drivers in their 20’s overall, represent 23 percent of drivers in all fatal crashes.

The best way to end distracted driving is to educate all Americans about the danger it poses, particularly young drivers who regularly communicate on smart phones and may not appreciate the risk. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident involving a distracted driver, contact the Des Moines Law Offices of John T. Hemminger for help.