Dangers of Distracted Driving
Businesses have started to open up for more in-person dining, shopping, and services, which has led to more driving and getting out of the house. Therefore, Strellis and Field wanted to share some information about the dangers of distracted driving in an effort to keep everyone safe on the road. What exactly is distracted driving? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving is any activity that diverts your attention from safe driving. Activities can include but are not limited to texting, talking on the phone, eating, drinking, talking to other passengers, doing makeup, looking up directions on a GPS, looking at a map, or adjusting the radio/AC. Thus, almost any activity that is not driving can be considered distracted driving. Distracted driving is extremely dangerous and it was the cause of 2,841 fatalities in 2018 alone.
There are three main types of distracted driving activities: manual, visual, and cognitive. Manual distractions involve anything that takes your hands off the wheel. Visual distractions are actions that take your eyes off the road. Cognitive distractions are any activity that takes your mind off of driving. Some distractions can fall into two or three of these categories.
Texting is a manual, visual, and cognitive distraction. Texting takes your eyes off the road for at least 5 seconds. If you are driving 55 mph, in that 5 seconds you theoretically drove the length of a football field with your eyes closed. According to NHTSA, driving a vehicle while texting is six times more dangerous than driving while intoxicated. Any phone use, not just texting is extremely dangerous. A 2019 study on distracted driving and social media done by DriversEd.com found that 55% of U.S. drivers check social media while driving. Furthermore, the National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that phones were being used during one-fourth of all car crashes in the United States.
In Illinois, the law prohibits texting, using a hand-held cellphone, or using other electronic communications while driving any type of motor vehicle. People aged 19 and older are allowed to use Bluetooth and hands-free devices. However, these devices still lead to distractions and can be dangerous so it is best to pull over and stop driving before making any calls. The only occasions where drivers can legally use a non-hands-free phone in Illinois is to report an emergency, or while being parked on the shoulder of a roadway, or stopped due to normal traffic being obstructed and the vehicle must be in neutral or park.
We hope these facts remind you of the importance of staying focused and safe on the roads! If you or your family member has been injured by an automobile accident, contact our office today for a free initial consultation and a complete analysis of the circumstances. Our lawyers are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
