Distracted driving costs the government over $100 billion every year. At the same time, a little over 5000 people lose their lives to distracted driving all over America each year. Many of these deaths are unnecessary and avoidable, and they are caused by human negligence which can be curtailed in a number of ways. In keeping with NHTSA’s road safety measures, April has been designated as distracted driving awareness month.
We live in an interconnected world that is dominated by handheld devices. At the same time, the average American car built after 2010 has an array of electronic bells and whistles which provide information about the car and journey, as well as entertain its car occupants. Social media is an all-consuming obsession, and it’s not uncommon for drivers on Indiana roads to look down to check their phones once they get a notification ‘ding’ from sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
It is said that it only takes 5 seconds for an accident to occur when one is distracted. A car can travel the length of a football field in that short amount of time, meaning that picking up the phone to answer a call or send a text is all it takes to end up in an Indiana car accident.
Moving away from devices, distracted driving can mean many things such as:
- Having animated conversations with other car occupants
- Wearing clothes or applying makeup in the rearview mirror while driving
- Casually rubbernecking to check out the views or the occupants of other cars nearby
- Fiddling with the radio dial to find a good station
- Changing the channel on an in-car TV set
Before You Engage in Distracted Driving…
The temptation to multitask can be strong and irresistible to a lot of people. However, it is important to note that you are sharing our Indiana roads with other people who may get injured and who are doing their part to drive responsibly. An accident can cost lives and lead to financial losses and even jail time, so keep this in mind as you get behind the wheel this month.
Distracted Driving Safety Tips
If you must use your phone and other electronic devices, consider using a phone lock for the duration of your journey. If you can’t do that, use a hands-free, voice activated kit, or pull over on the side of the road to take an important phone call.
If you’ve been injured in an Indiana car accident, call us today on (773) 673-9861 for free legal advice on what you gain to recover should you file an Indiana personal injury lawsuit. Thanks for choosing us.