Mingus Mountain Law Group PLLC warns Arizonans of the dangers of distracted driving and the serious, often fatal, consequences to the driver and passengers as well as the occupants of other vehicles involved including pedestrians.
Fact: A frightening number of traffic accidents involve distracted drivers. The result? According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately nine people die every day and more than 1,000 are injured in crashes reported to involve a distracted driver. Annually, that means more than 3,000 die and more than a third of a million people are injured.
Distracted driving activities include glancing at your phone, reading or sending text messages, live streaming, eating and drinking, talking to others in the car, talking on the phone, using social media, adjusting the entertainment system (radio station, volume, cd player) and using a navigation system.
How many near-misses have you seen as you watch a vehicle steer back onto the road? And how many near-misses have you recovered from yourself? Have you found yourself distracted, and you look up to see brake lights just in time to stop before you hit another car or a pedestrian, or you’ve veered near the edge of the roadway?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 650,000 drivers are using their cell phones or manipulating other electronic devices while driving during daylight hours.
And according to the National Occupant Protection Use Survey, hand-held cell phone use ranks highest among the least-experienced group of drivers, ages 16-24. That statistic alone creates the enormous potential for deaths and injuries on our roads. So, while very tragic, it is not surprising that teenagers were the largest age group reported as being distracted at the time of fatal crashes.
Among the various distracted driving activities, texting is by far the most alarming. Reading or sending a text message means taking your eyes off the road for five seconds. At 55 mph, it is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.
You cannot and will not drive safely unless the responsibility of driving has your complete attention. Every non-driving activity is a potential distraction and increases your risk of an accident.
The NHTSA leads the fight against distracted driving on a national level by educating drivers about its dangers and partnering with individual state and local police departments to enforce the laws against distracted driving that help keep everyone safe.
If you or someone you care about is the victim of a distracted driver, Mingus Mountain Law Group PLLC can help. We are experienced in litigating and negotiating automobile accident personal injury claims, and understand that the financial, emotional, and physical toll is felt not only by you, the victim, but also by your family. Call Mingus Mountain Law Group PLLC today for a free consultation at 928-775-9398.
