From fatigued driving to texting and browsing social media while driving, the range of distracted driving is a broad one. As such, many drivers are unaware of the fact that they themselves are guilty of distracted driving. To raise public awareness of what constitutes distracted driving and why it is so dangerous, April is observed as Distracted Driving Awareness Month throughout the United States.
A Persistent, Prevalent Danger
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 3,000 of all traffic fatalities in the U.S. involve distracted driving. The CDC further reported that in 2018, about 400,000 people were found to have been injured in such accidents. Thus, the danger of driving while distracted is a proven one, and action must be taken to mitigate it. Fortunately, this can be done by reducing the potential for distraction and choosing to pay attention to the road.
What Is Considered Distracted Driving?
The CDC categorizes distracted driving into three primary categories:
- Visual: distractions that take your eyes off the road, such as looking at a mounted GPS
- Manual: distractions that take one or both hands away from the steering wheel, such as tuning the radio
- Cognitive: distractions that take your attention away from the road, such as being too preoccupied with personal problems to focus on anything else
Most driver distractions meet more than one of these categories from the CDC. For example, all the following distractions meet all three categories:
- Eating and drinking
- Changing clothes
- Texting, calling, and other handheld cell phone use
- Personal grooming or “fixing” one’s appearance
Driver distractions that tend to meet only one or two of the CDC’s categories include adjusting the radio, temperature settings, and/or rearview and side-view mirrors and reaching for a fallen item, feeling drowsy, and daydreaming.
Fighting for Public Safety in Fort Lauderdale
Our attorneys at Schlesinger Law Offices, P.A. are proud to observe Distracting Driving Awareness Month 2021, as we remain committed to representing auto accident victims in personal injury cases. In addition to the adoption of safe driving habits, distracted driving can be reduced by holding distracted drivers accountable for the harm they cause. If you have been involved in an accident with a distracted driver and suffered a catastrophic injury as a result, contact our legal team onlinetoday for a risk-free consultation.
