Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. Driving distractions are extremely dangerous to the lives of the driver, passengers, and others on the road. Avoiding distracted driving at all costs can help to save your life and the lives of others. Distracted driving comes from the following actions: texting, using a cell phone in any way, eating or drinking, talking to passengers, grooming, reading, using a navigation system or radio, and watching any form of video. Because texting while driving requires the driver to read and use their hands to respond it is the most dangerous form of distracted driving and should never be done while operating a motor vehicle, as it could lead to a horrible car accident in Las Vegas.
Texting while driving literally keeps the driver’s eyes off of the road, which is, in many cases is a fatal mistake on the driver’s part. Not only does texting while driving take the driver’s eyes off of the road, it also delays reaction time comparatively to the delayed reaction timing of an alcohol impaired driver.
Distracted driving stats via https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving:
-In 2010, 3092 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver and an estimated additional 416,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver.
-18% of injury crashes in 2010 were reported as distraction-affected crashes.
-In the month of June 2011, more than 196 billion text messages were sent or received in the US, up nearly 50% from June 2009.
-11% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted.
-40% of all American teens say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put people in danger.
-Drivers who use hand-held devices are 4 times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves.
-Text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted.
-Sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent-at 55 mph-of driving the length of an entire football field, blind.
-Headset cell phone use is not substantially safer than hand-held use.
-Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37%.
Distracted driving is a serious issue that causes hundreds of thousands of deaths a year. If you have fallen victim to a distracted driving accident, don’t hesitate to give G. Dallas Horton and Associates a call at 702-820-5917.
G. Dallas Horton is one of the top personal injury attorneys in Las Vegas, Nevada. He specializes in personal injury, accidents, and wrongful death cases. He has been practicing law for over 15 years and has won millions of dollars in settlements for his clients. For more information or to contact G. Dallas Horton & Associates today. The contents of this post are the personal opinions of G. Dallas Horton and should not be assumed to be legal counsel.
