What should you know about the distracted driving epidemic?

On behalf of Jacqueline A. Scott & Associates posted in medical malpractice on Thursday, April 19, 2018.

When you drive through Louisiana, there’s a good chance that you’re going to pass at least one distracted driver. Distracted driving is an epidemic affecting the entire nation, and here are a few things that you should know about it before you hit the road again.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration highlights the growing dangers of distracted driving, particularly in terms of people being distracted by cell phones. Texting and driving is a particularly widespread problem, with people often checking their messages or texts during “down times” in traffic. Unfortunately, every time you take your eyes off of the road, you risk getting into an accident. In the average amount of time it takes to check a text, you could have already traveled across a football field’s worth of road.

Cell phones aren’t the only distraction, though. It’s suggested that people also don’t drive with their music too loud or change it unless they can pull over. If you drive with other people frequently, they should also be keeping themselves relatively quiet and not doing anything that could distract you, like play-fighting or attempting to draw your attention. Even driving while tired is a form of distracted driving, as you won’t be able to keep your eyes on the road if you’re struggling to stay awake.

All of these behaviors combine into something incredibly lethal, as distracted driving takes thousands of lives every year. If you have been involved in a distracted driving-related accident, you may want to seek an attorney’s opinion on what to do next.