Distracted drivers continue to risk their own lives and put others in peril of serious injury or death. After a decade of research into distracted driving crashes, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is now recommending that all U.S. states ban all non-emergency portable electronic device usage while driving. Some states have already adopted this, but not all.
Crashes even happen when someone is using a hands-free device, the NTSB noted, as anything that distracts a driver for a few seconds has the potential to cause an accident. Smartphones, tablets, and infotainment devices in vehicles are tempting drivers to multitask while on the road.
“It’s about cognitive distraction,” said NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman. “It’s about not being engaged at the task at hand. Lives are being lost in the blink of an eye. You can’t take it back, you can’t have a do over, and you can’t rewind.”
Along with NTSB’s recommendation, it encourages states to utilize the NHTSA guidelines for high-visibility enforcement and targeted campaigns to educate drivers about this recommendation, increased enforcement, and penalties drivers could face if caught. Last year, more than 3,000 people died in distracted driving incidents. Being aware of your friend’s latest Facebook post, text, or chatting is not worth risking a life, safe driving advocates say.
The NTSB reports that distracted driving occurs in all modes of transportation. From passenger car drivers, to truckers, and even train engineers and pilots, distractions from phones and other devices have caused deadly accidents. A recent study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute shows that the risk of an accident is 163 times more likely when a driver is texting, surfing the Internet, or emailing.
“The data is clear; the time to act is now,” said Hersman. “How many more lives will be lost before we, as a society, change our attitudes about the deadliness of distractions?”
The best prevention against distracted driving accidents is to turn your phone off when you are behind the wheel. This way you are not tempted to use it. If it must stay on, many cellphone providers are starting to provide apps that send callers an “away message” if you are driving. If you are still too curious, lock your phone in the trunk or glove compartment so that it is hard to get to.
Victims of a distracted driving accident do have rights to go after the person that caused the accident. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you get compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related costs. There is no need to suffer alone in silence. This is your opportunity to inform your community about the risk of distracted driving and to help make a difference.
John Hale is a Waxahachie personal injury attorney and Ellis County personal injury lawyer helping injury victims near Dallas, Texas. Learn more at http://www.hale911.com/.
