Distracted Driving – A problem for everyone

One of the most frequent causes of motor vehicle accidents is distracted driving. Doing things that take our attention away from the road can lead to dangerous, and deadly, consequences.

A recent insurance industry survey (embed link: https://www.thezebra.com/resources/research/distracted-driving-statistics/) showed that over 60% of drivers talk on the phone while driving, and almost half admit to sending or receiving text messages behind the wheel. Eating and drinking, taking photos and videos, and applying makeup are also significant distractions for drivers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports (embed link: https://nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving) that over 3,300 lives were lost in the United States to distracted driving in 2022. In Florida alone there were over 53,000 crashes, and 268 deaths, from distracted driving in 2022.

So what can we do? We can’t control what other drivers do, but some things we can do ourselves to combat this problem include:

1. Consider turning off your cell phone or other electronic device while you drive, or make use of applications that don’t allow incoming calls and texts while you are behind the wheel.
2. Avoid making calls, texting, eating, taking photos or grooming while driving.
3. Program your GPS/navigation system before you get on the road so you’re not attempting to set it while you drive.
4. If you’re a parent of a young driver, lead by example by never driving while distracted and also remind your child frequently of the consequences of driving while distracted.
5. Speak up when you’re a passenger and you observe someone else driving while distracted. Often a simple reminder can get someone to refocus their attention on the road and avoid a tragedy.

At Phil Hall, P.A., we see the results of distracted driving every day. With over 40 years of combined experience handling personal injury cases, the attorneys at Phil Hall, P.A. are ready to help. If you or someone you love has been injured as a result of distracted driving and you want to speak to a car accident attorney who listens, give us a call.