Stay Safe During Distracted Driving Awareness Month

In an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, the National Safety Council has named April the official Distracted Driving Awareness Month. According to AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, distracted driving leads to approximately 5,000 deaths each year. Whether its texting, eating, checking emails or scrolling through social media, distracted driving is hazardous and could lead to potentially deadly situations. Federal research estimates that distraction leads to about 16% of all fatal crashes, and at any given moment, about 660,000 drivers across the U,S, are using their cell phones, or other electronics, while driving. While distracted driving often involves texting, it could be anything that draws the driver’s attention away from the task at hand. Some common examples of distracted driving include:

• Texting
• Checking emails
• Downloading songs or changing music
• Scrolling through social media
• Posting on social media
• Taking pictures or video
• Using a mobile app
• Talking on the phone
• Eating
• Putting on makeup
• Using navigation

Any sort of distraction can become dangerous, especially because the distraction does not simply end when the driver returns to the task at hand. According to AAA’s latest research, the average distraction lasts about 27 seconds. This means that when the driver looks up from his or her phone, or puts away the distraction, the driver’s attention remains with the distraction for about 27 seconds, and is still not fully given to driving. So, even if you only check your phone while at traffic stops, your mind is likely still preoccupied when you begin to drive. Driving distractions are more than just physical, (looking away from the road), they are mental. If the mind is distracted, even if your eyes are on the road, you are a distracted driver. To combat this problem and put safety first, the National Safety Council has enacted a campaign with the slogan “Just Drive,” to stress how important it is to ensure that driving be the only thing the driver does. The State Farm Distracted Driving Survey found that 84% of drivers support the laws that prohibit cell phone use while driving, while 80% of the drivers in the AAA Foundation Traffic Safety study admitted to feeling less safe on the road because of distracted drivers. The public is aware of the problem, and while individuals and campaigns make efforts to stop distracted driving, the issue still lingers. If you or a loved one was injured in an accident involving a distracted driver, our attorneys want to help. At the Law Offices of Malouf & Malouf, PLLC, we understand how frightening and overwhelming it is to be involved in a motor vehicle accident, and we want to fight for your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Contact the Law Offices of Malouf & Malouf, PLLC for a complimentary consultation for more info.   To read more accident articles click here