One of the riskiest driving practices is using a cell phone while driving. It’s been found that distractions behind the wheel are often as dangerous as drunk driving. Here are some reasons why distracted driving is so dangerous.
Being Involved in an Accident
The number of people dying from distracted driving accidents is increasing every year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration claims that distracted driving accidents injure more and more people yearly.
Distracted driving accidents often lead to severe injuries or even death. In the past five years alone, thousands of fatal distraction-related accidents have occurred. If you are involved in an accident due to a distracted driver, you can hire a Morris Bart car accident attorney to get the compensation you deserve.
Criminal Penalties
If caught texting while driving, you may face serious consequences. The penalties will depend on your circumstances if you’re convicted of texting and driving. If you have an accident involving death or severe injury, you could face jail time and a fine of up to 10,000 dollars.
Having Your Driving Privileges Revoked
If you’re caught texting, you could face some serious driving limitations. If you’re texting while driving and are involved in an accident that results in “serious injury” or death, your driver’s license will be revoked.
It may also be revoked if you get caught texting while driving and have had a similar conviction. The fine will double if the previous violation was within the last five years.
Drivers Who Are Distracted Are Not Mentally Prepared to React
Distracted drivers have a delayed reaction time. They are not mentally prepared to react to different driving situations. Drivers texting have a slower reaction time than drivers who are not distracted while driving.
This means that drivers who text and drive are likely to have a delayed reaction to sudden changes or obstacles in their driving path.
Distracted Drivers Will Be Less Observant
If you are texting and driving, you will be less observant of your surroundings and slower to react to them. You won’t see a child running into the street or an accident brewing ahead. Distracted driving means distracted awareness. A driver can’t look down at their phone, read text messages, and look up enough to navigate through traffic safely.
​Distracted Driving Is a Leading Cause of Death
Distracted driving is a leading cause of death across the world. It’s incredibly dangerous to allow yourself to be distracted while driving, especially if you are on the road. It affects your ability to focus on driving and react to external factors that may present themselves while driving.
Studies have shown that if you are using things such as cell phones or other electronic devices while behind the wheel, your reaction time will be delayed by at least one second, which may not seem like a lot, but in reality, it can lead to thousands of deaths each year.
It Endangers the Lives of Pedestrians
Distracted drivers looking at their phones and not being mindful of the road could not see a pedestrian crossing the street. Pedestrians always need to be alert when they walk into the street, but distracted drivers make them more vulnerable.
This is because distracted drivers are likely not to notice a pedestrian in the street. If drivers are not paying attention, they may not see the obstacle in front of their car, which can cause an accident.
It Leads to Higher Insurance Premiums
According to AAA, distracted drivers pay an average of $7,000 more in insurance premiums per accident. This is because of these drivers’ dangerous actions while behind the wheel.
Insurance companies base the rates they charge on the number of accidents a driver has been involved in over their lifetime. You could see your insurance premiums increase if you have a DUI conviction or other driving violations.
Avoid the Dangers of Distracted Driving
In conclusion, distracted driving is a big problem on the road. Distracted driving can cause serious accidents, injuries, and even death. The penalties that are involved with distracted driving are high and expensive. If you value your life, stay focused on the road and eliminate all distractions to ensure a safe trip for you and your passengers.
About the author:
Early in his journalism college years, Kerry Tucker had a revelation: there were not nearly enough law communicators. Peoples’ difficulties in understanding the law, procedures, and how the justice system worked stemmed from the fact that no one took the patience to explain
complicated matters to them. Therefore, he took upon him the task of helping people navigate legal matters easier. He works with attorneys and other legal journalists, and spends time doing research so that everyone can find the actionable answers they are looking for.
