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Last updated Tuesday, November 5th, 2024
Everyone, take your phone out of your hands and return it to your car mount. You do have a cell phone docking station in place when you drive, right? April is National Distracted Driver Awareness Month, and that means a lot to those of us working at Isaacs & Isaacs. We are a personal injury law firm for car accidents and semi-truck collisions, including truck accidents caused by distracted driving. We’ve seen a lot of lives affected by distracted driving and we know how easily these accidents can be avoided.
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Whether it’s to check a text, input directions or find a new song, we’ve all seen drivers check their phones while on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving claimed 3,166 lives in 2017[1], and in 2015 there were over 391,000 distracted driver-related injuries.[2]
Still not concerned?
Think about the last time you watched a football game. It takes the player what feels like ages to make it from one end zone to the other. A car rolling at 55 MPH, however, only takes about five seconds.
If the average text takes about five seconds to type, that means that you could roll the entire length of a football field without taking your eyes off your phone. That equates to 120 yards in which a driver isn’t paying attention to his or her surroundings. In 2015, 551 of distracted driving fatalities were non-occupants (pedestrians, bicyclists, etc.)
The definition of a driving distraction is when a driver is engaged in another activity while simultaneously operating his or her vehicle. Distracted Driving can range anywhere from texting to eating to changing your radio station. Anything that takes your eyes off the road potentially puts yourself or other drivers at risk. The dangers of texting and driving always outweigh the immediate gratification of answering a text.
Legally, distracted driving is mostly qualified through cell phone use while driving. While these laws vary from state to state, they all have the same agenda: To prevent drivers from taking their eyes off the road.
Almost every state, with the exceptions of Montana, Arizona and Missouri, abides by a strict ban on texting while operating a vehicle. Even Missouri places restrictions upon its texting leniency and limits novice drivers from texting while driving.
While in some states it is still okay to talk on your phone or use GPS navigation, texting and driving laws focus exclusively on the exchange of information that could potentially distract a driver for extended and repeated periods of time.
While this list includes important distracted driving “don’ts” for the states our offices call home, it is not comprehensive. Familiarize yourself with your state’s unique driving laws before hitting the road!
The NHTSA 2015 Distracted Driving Safety Fact Research reports the largest percentage of distracted driving fatalities occurs when the driver is between 15-19. While this puts teens as the most dangerous offenders, a 2013 ATT study indicated it’s actually commuters, coming in at 49%, who are the most likely to text and drive, compared to 43% of teens.[6]
Teenagers learn from example and it’s important to recognize that they grew up during a generation where their parents had access to phones and likely used them on the road. Preventing distracted driving starts by being a good role model.
There are a lot of things you can do to avoid the temptation of using your phone while driving. It’s not always easy to break a bad habit, but the following list offers a few solutions.
Are you ready to take a stand against distracted driving? The National Safety Council is taking pledges to end distracted driving once and for all![7] Challenge yourself and decide how you would finish this statement:
Click here to pledge to Just Drive for your safety and the safety of those with whom you share the roads.
If you or someone you know has been affected by the actions of a distracted driver, you need a car accident attorney you can trust. Isaacs & Isaacs Law Firm has recovered over 1 billion dollars for its clients and has over 25 years of experience serving Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. Call 800-333-9999 for your free consultation.
Isaacs & Isaacs, Primary Office 1601 Business Center Ct Louisville, KY 40299
[1] [NHTSA – Distracted Driving]↩
[2] [Traffic Safety Facts – Distracted Driving]↩
[3] [Distracted Driving Laws in Kentucky]↩
[4] [Distracted Driving Laws in Indiana]↩
[5] [Distracted Driving Laws in Ohio]↩
[6] [Commuter Survey]↩
[7] [Distracted Driving Awareness Month]↩
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