Multitasking is nothing new in this modern world. Parents attend Zoom meetings while feeding their babies. Power moms hand out instructions while getting dinner ready. In most cases, multitasking is a symptom of simply being too busy. However, when people start doing two things at once while driving, it becomes a life-threatening activity. Distracted driving, or physically doing something that diverts attention from the road, is one of the most dangerous driving behaviors. In fact, distracted driving is responsible for 9% of fatal accidents in the US.
What Is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving encompasses a range of visual and manual distractions that cause drivers to stop focusing on the road. These distractions include looking at roadside attractions while driving or reading the words on a billboard. It also includes fiddling with the car radio, eating, talking on the phone, or reaching for something in the backseat. Most drivers do not realize that just by singing along to a song on the radio or thinking of a date later that evening, they are distracted from driving.
What Are the Dangers of Distracted Driving
When you no longer focus 100% on driving safely, you are less likely to notice hazards that may cause an accident. For instance, if you are on the phone, you may not see a stalled car ahead until it is too late to swerve around it safely. You may not notice a pedestrian suddenly stepping off the sidewalk. Once distracted, it will take you longer to react when you finally notice these hazards. Your reaction time is the difference between avoiding a fatal accident and causing one. If you cause an accident, you risk injuring or killing other people and yourself. If the accident causes major injuries to other parties, you will be liable for medical costs and other damages.
Moreover, distracted driving can put your life in danger in other ways. You may not be the one driving. You may be the person whose car stalled on the road, and the distracted driver behind you doesn’t notice in time. You may be the pedestrian who slipped in the rain, stumbling onto the road, and the driver talking on his phone doesn’t see you in time.
Distracted Driving Statistics
Nearly 30,000 people died as a result of distracted driving between 2012 and 2020. And, while fatal distracted driving accidents have decreased by 1% since 2016, driver inattention on the road remains a massive problem.
Studies show drivers between the ages of 25 and 34 are responsible for the most fatal accidents caused by distractions. And, because teenage drivers grew up with technology, they use it in their cars, become distracted, and cause accidents. Forty-four percent of fatal distracted driving accidents in 2020 resulted in deceased victims between the ages of 15 and 19. These drivers, distracted by phones, music, and passengers, drove too fast, ran red lights, and did not notice hazards until it was too late.
Perhaps the scariest part is that people continue to drive while distracted despite these terrifying statistics. Three percent of drivers use their phones even when it is raining, while motorists with small children are most likely to use their phones while driving.
What Has Been Done to Curb Distracted Driving?
The cost of distracted driving does not just equal lost lives and horrific injuries. It has a massive impact on the US economy. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that distracted driving accidents cost the country around $40 billion every year. This covers medical expenses, lost salaries, and property damage.
Therefore, the US has taken measures to try and curb the scourge of distracted driving. Forty-eight states have banned texting and driving, while 24 states have banned handheld cell phone use while driving. There are several public education campaigns aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of distracted driving. Some states have also limited the number of passengers allowed in a car with a teen driver.
Many states have installed rumble strips on their main highways to keep drivers alert. These rumble strips are proven to reduce the likelihood of crashes.
While some of these strategies are somewhat effective, many imposed driving laws are too weak and poorly enforced to make a real difference. Most lawmakers agree that stronger laws and harsher penalties may help deter drivers from allowing distractions to reduce their focus while driving.
Staying Accountable
Ultimately, it is up to each driver to avoid and eliminate distractions. The government alone cannot solve the distracted driving problem. It requires a concerted effort from all drivers to make the roads safe for everyone.