14 Dec What is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is a serious problem on American roads. It poses a major risk to personal safety and public well-being, and as it is such a threat, it pays to understand the question: “What is distracted driving?” In this post, we delve into the definition of the term, the types of distracted driving, the vulnerability of different age groups, and the scale of the problem.
What Are the Implications of Distracted Driving?
The facts about texting and driving are sobering. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving led to 3,142 fatalities on American roads in 2019. It also caused an estimated 424,000 injuries, and the phenomenon was cited in as much as 15% of all police-reported vehicle traffic crashes on American roadways. The government body goes on to say that 28,000 people were injured in crashes involving either cell phone use or another cell phone-related activity.
Many of these cases lead to a claim for personal injury through the legal system, which can be a complicated scenario. For guidance associated with filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit, time limits, comparative fault, and other issues, check out this resource.
How Do Consumers View Distracted Driving?
It’s interesting to look at consumer perception of distracted driving and its dangers and to find out why people are tempted to engage in this type of activity. Data company Arity conducted a survey with this in mind. The survey found that drivers generally are less confident in their ability to deal with any distractions while driving. However, interestingly, while almost all drivers consider phone usage to be a risk, many of them admit to using the device while driving.
When asked about the most distracting activities they could face when behind the wheel, the survey drivers listed watching videos, texting and driving, reading, sending emails on the phone, and reading at the top of the list. However, they believe they can still conduct certain tasks without issue, such as navigating the GPS system or adjusting the music levels on their car radio.
Interestingly, many survey drivers were unaware of the impacts that distracted driving might have on their insurance premiums. Further, 25% of the drivers had been in an accident due to distracted driving, but only a few received a ticket for doing so.
What Are the Different Types of Distracted Driving?
Delving deeper into the nuances of distracted driving helps to categorize the various types of distraction drivers contend with. Broadly speaking, these distractions can be classified into visual, manual, or cognitive distractions.
Visual distractions will divert the eyes of the driver away from the road, while manual distractions will involve taking at least one hand off the wheel. A cognitive distraction simply occupies the driver’s mind (such as talking with a passenger). The biggest risk involves a device like a smartphone, which is ubiquitous today. It’s made texting while driving a significant visual and cognitive distraction, which demands both attention and physical engagement.
Beyond the digital device, many other common distractions within the passenger compartment exist. These include eating, which some people do while commuting to work to save time. Others may engage in personal grooming because they may not have had enough time in the morning to prepare themselves properly for the day ahead. Regardless of its nature, each distraction may contribute to a compromised driving environment. Certainly, the second or two that it takes to glance at a notification on a phone or grab a snack may seem inconsequential. However, it can be the difference between a safe arrival and a life-altering collision.
What Are the Most Vulnerable Age Groups?
When you address the question: “What age group has the greatest proportion of distracted drivers?” statistics are hard to come by. However, while inattentive driving doesn’t discriminate and can affect drivers of all ages, certain groups are more susceptible to temptations and the risks.
Teenagers and young adults may often have a sense of invincibility and could therefore be more prone to engaging in distracted driving behaviors. Their inexperience, coupled with their reliance on new technology, can place this demographic in a very precarious position on the highway.
Yet older adults are not immune to distracted driving challenges either. As technology advances, more and more seniors are turning to smartphones and purchasing in-car infotainment systems. Yet, they may often struggle to adapt to these technologies. This unfamiliarity and a potential age-related decline in reaction time could create an even more dangerous intersection for older drivers.
To illustrate this, the Automobile Association, in conjunction with the University of Utah, conducted a study to find out how seniors interacted with onboard functions when driving a new car. The study tested seniors in several newer cars as they tried to use the technology. Drivers aged 55 or older were up to eight seconds slower than millennials when using vehicle functions such as calling or navigation. As part of the study, the AAA was quick to point out that removing your eyes from the road for just two seconds can double the risk of a crash.
So, it’s crucial for governments and regulators to understand these vulnerable age groups and paramount to implement targeted educational prevention strategies. Any initiatives that are aimed at raising awareness amongst teenagers around the penalty of distracted driving would be valuable. Older adults could be provided with resources that help them navigate evolving vehicle technologies at the same time.
The Similarities between Distracted Driving and a DUI
Some people have drawn a parallel between certain types of distracted driving and driving under the influence (DUI). It appears that there are some striking similarities in terms of impaired judgment and delayed reactions.
Of course, a DUI involves the influence of substances, but both scenarios can result in compromised cognitive or motor skills. Unfortunately, the consequences can mirror each other, with an increased likelihood of accidents, injuries, and deaths.
Yet despite these parallels, distracted driving may often be perceived differently from DUI in both legal circles and societal contexts. DUI carries a pervasive societal stigma as well as strict legal consequences. Distracted driving offenses are often treated less severely. Still, this discrepancy raises questions about the public’s perception and underscores the need for a more uniform approach to tackling impaired driving, regardless of its origin.
Turning to Research for Answers
Some institutions, notably the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), have conducted a great deal of research to investigate response times associated with distracted driving. These studies can shed light on actual experiments that can show the impact of distraction on people’s ability to navigate the roads safely.
In such research, investigators have sought to recreate the real-world consequences of distracted driving within the controlled confines of a laboratory. The VTTI houses nearly 90% of the continuous naturalistic driving data in the world and has recently joined up with the National Distracted Driving Coalition as a member institution. Collectively, these bodies aim to accelerate the implementation of short and long-term interventions that will encourage attentive driving and cut down on distracted driving fatalities and injuries.
What Distracted Driving Surveys Show
A study used naturalistic driving data that was collected with multiple onboard video cameras and sensors to evaluate risk factors during the seconds leading up to a crash. Within the dataset, 905 people were injured, and there was significant property damage, so the researchers were able to conduct the first direct analysis of causal factors associated with actual crashes. Interestingly, all age groups were represented, but drivers under 25 years and over 65 were purposefully oversampled, as these groups were found to have an elevated crash risk.
This is a comprehensive study, and some of the findings are interesting. Hand-held cell phone dialing, reading, or writing and reaching for a non-cellphone object seemed to have the highest risks. These were closely followed by texting on a hand-held cell phone, reaching for the hand-held cell phone, and browsing on said phone (reading emails, etc.). An extended glance at an external object was also found to be highly contributory.
Navigating the Legal Landscape
The legal landscape can be multifaceted and complex in the aftermath of a distracted driving accident. Unlike a case of driving under the influence (where such influence can be easily quantifiable), it may be hard to prove that distraction was a major factor. Sometimes, a law enforcement agency will incorporate phone usage records, with the actual phone conversation data being tied to the moment of impact. They may also use witness testimonies to try and establish distraction. However, there is quite a significant legal threshold for accountability, especially where wrongful death is concerned, and it remains an evolving aspect of the judicial process overall.
Assessing the Personal Toll of Distracted Driving
There is a significant personal injury toll associated with distracted driving. The damage caused goes far beyond shattered windshields and crumpled metal and can result in significant emotional trauma and financial burdens for those involved. It’s not unusual for victims of distracted driving accidents to find that they need to grapple with physical injuries, psychological distress, and the long-term effects of these experiences. Injuries can range from whiplash to traumatic brain injuries, and the results of distracted driving can be very diverse and often life-altering.
Proving a Distracted Driving Case
When tackling a personal injury case that stems from distracted driving accidents, a lawyer will often have to negotiate with an insurance company. In some cases, they may also need to bring a civil lawsuit in order to get adequate compensation for an affected party. So, to establish liability in these cases, an attorney will work through the distracted driving laws and conduct a thorough examination of the evidence. They’ll need to look closely at eyewitness accounts, search through phone records, and even bring in expert testimony that underlines the impact of distractions on driving behavior.
The Personal Injury Implications of Distracted Driving
The issue of distracted driving goes far beyond any visible scars left on a vehicle. An accident can infiltrate the lives of a victim and leave a lasting imprint on their emotional, physical, or financial well-being. Addressing distracted driving will need a comprehensive and collective effort among all parties to draw attention to the risk and the potential consequences. These efforts will need to recognize that there may be vulnerable age groups and explore the different types of distraction. In other words, such an effort needs to go far beyond the simple message: “Don’t text and drive.”
It’s also important to look at the science of response time testing as conducted by VTTI and others. This data is a stark reminder of the real-world consequences of distracted attention on the road.
And, of course, the personal injury angle provides a poignant perspective that goes well beyond statistics or charts. It should remind everyone that behind every distracted driving incident is a human story. Lives can be altered by a momentary lapse in focus that may seem so innocent at the time.
Working with Northern California’s Best Injury Law Team
If you’ve been injured in a car accident that may have been associated with a distracted driver, you need to employ the services of a skilled injury attorney. Yuba City accident attorney Steve Gimblin can help you navigate the often murky and challenging waters of an insurance settlement or an injury lawsuit.
Steve and his team will help you to get the best medical support you require as you pursue a speedy recovery, and they’ll also work directly with insurance companies and other parties, so you don’t need to worry about that stress while you get better.
At the Steve Gimblin Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyer, you’ll get a free personal injury case evaluation and can take advantage of our “no win, no fee” guarantee. We have a successful track record and have recovered billions of dollars for our clients, so we encourage you to read our client testimonials to get further information.
Remember, the first consultation is free, so we encourage you to call us now at (530) 671-9822 for a chat.
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