# Distracted Driving: Has It Improved? | Brooks Law Group ![Young woman distracted driving in car](https://brookslawgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/AdobeStock_245785247.jpeg) It’s pretty unlikely that you *haven’t* heard of the dangers of distracted driving. Our state has recently started to take the problem more seriously. It’s been just over a year since Florida’s texting and driving law went into effect. Though we don’t have updated statistics just yet, hopefully this law has kept us off our phones. But other distractions still loom in our vehicles that we might not have noticed. Last year, [Polk](https://brookslawgroup.com/winter-haven/personal-injury-lawyer/) and [Hillsborough](https://brookslawgroup.com/tampa/personal-injury-lawyer/) were among the Florida counties with the highest numbers of distracted drivers. What’s contributing to this scary fact? Let’s take a closer look. ## What Does Distracted Driving Mean? Distracted driving is anything that [takes your mind off of the road](https://www.flhsmv.gov/safety-center/driving-safety/distracted-driving/#:~:text=Section%20316.305%2C%20Florida%20Statutes%20allows,that%20are%20texting%20and%20driving.&text=A%20person%20may%20not%20operate%20a%20motor%20vehicle%20while%20using,or%20active%20work%20zone%20area.). This means more than just texting. Distracted driving can include: - Doing your makeup on the way to work - Turning around to check on your kids in the backseat - Eating your lunch from that fast food drive-thru you just stopped at - Thinking about your plans for the weekend and not about the road in front of you The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) has [three categories of distracted driving](https://www.flhsmv.gov/safety-center/driving-safety/distracted-driving/#:~:text=Section%20316.305%2C%20Florida%20Statutes%20allows,that%20are%20texting%20and%20driving.&text=A%20person%20may%20not%20operate%20a%20motor%20vehicle%20while%20using,or%20active%20work%20zone%20area.): visual, manual, and cognitive. Visual is when your eyes are off the road. Manual is when your hands are off the wheel. Cognitive is when your mind is off driving. Texting is so dangerous because it’s visual, manual, and cognitive all at once. But remember that all types of distractions can lead to crashes or fatalities. Look to Brooks!CALL US TODAY [![Phone Icon](https://brookslawgroup.com/wp-content/themes/brooks-law-group/assets/app/img/ctas/phone-icon.png)(800) 529-3030](tel:+18005293030) ## The Effects of Distracted Driving When you drive distracted, you drive dangerously. In 2018 alone, there were [almost a million car accidents](https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812926) involving distracted drivers. Of these, a tragic 8% proved fatal. Surprisingly, only 13% of these distracted driving deaths involved cell phone use. That means other distractions were at play. Distracted driving keeps you from seeing problems and hazards ahead of you. Your reaction time is slower, and you may not be able to avoid it in time. Texting and driving [reduces your reaction time](https://www.thezebra.com/resources/research/texting-and-driving-statistics/#drunk-driving) by the same amount as having a BAC of .08%, the legal limit. This should make you think twice before checking your phone or other things in your car. ## **How to Stay Focused While Driving** The first thing to do to stop yourself from distracted driving is recognize the risks. If you aren’t focused, you aren’t safe. Driving is not an easy task, even for the most experienced of drivers. You should exercise an abundance of caution and make sure you aren’t putting yourself in harm’s way. Think of your passengers and the people around you too. You don’t want them to get hurt because you were distracted! If you absolutely have to do other things while driving, be smart about it. Have one of your passengers answer texts for you instead. You could also use your car’s hands-free system to make calls and answer texts. Just make sure that the road ahead is your first priority while doing so. If there’s a distraction in your car, like a crying child or a bug stuck inside, *don’t drive!* It’s easier and safer if you pull off the street into a parking spot. Put your car in park and deal with the problem then. Don’t get stressed and try to do everything at once—you could get hurt. --- We hope that these tips help keep distracted driving down in Florida. Do you think it’s improved at all in the past year? Let us know in the comment section! If you or a loved one has been in a car accident due to distracted driving, [contact us today](https://brookslawgroup.com/contact-us/). Brooks Law Group’s [experienced attorneys](https://brookslawgroup.com/attorneys/) are ready to handle your case and get you the compensation you deserve. Call or text [(800) 529-3030](tel:+18005293030) or complete a [Free Case Evaluation form](/contact-us/) Personal Injury Blog Posts: [![We're proud to be an AV Preeminent Rated lawyer!](https://brookslawgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/LTB-Blog-image-1-1-300x251.jpg)](https://brookslawgroup.com/blog/brooks-law-group-is-an-av-preeminent-rated-lawyer-in-west-palm-beach/) ### [Brooks Law Group Is an AV Preeminent Rated Lawyer in West Palm Beach](https://brookslawgroup.com/blog/brooks-law-group-is-an-av-preeminent-rated-lawyer-in-west-palm-beach/) Why should you look for an AV Preeminent Rated Lawyer? While searching for legal representation, you've probably seen [![woman of color sitting at computer desk, with crutches propped beside her.](https://brookslawgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/LTB-Blog-1-Image-1-300x251.jpg)](https://brookslawgroup.com/blog/aftermath-dealing-with-permanent-disabilities-after-an-accident/) ### [Aftermath: Dealing with Permanent Disabilities After An Accident](https://brookslawgroup.com/blog/aftermath-dealing-with-permanent-disabilities-after-an-accident/) As Tampa Bay's trusted personal injury attorneys, we are accustomed to helping victims through the aftermath of [![Brooks Law Group and The Marks Law Firm Interview with Tom Marks](https://brookslawgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/An-Interview-with-Tom-Marks-compress-300x225.png)](https://brookslawgroup.com/blog/family-law-and-personal-and-injury-interview-with-tom-marks/) ### [Family Law & Personal Injury: Interview with Tom Marks](https://brookslawgroup.com/blog/family-law-and-personal-and-injury-interview-with-tom-marks/) Our managing partner Steve Brooks had the honor of appearing on The Healthy Family Law Attorney show. In this interview [![Fuel truck accidents require the help of a Tampa truck accident lawyer](https://brookslawgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/LTB-Blog-image-1-2-300x251.jpg)](https://brookslawgroup.com/blog/fuel-truck-accidents-in-tampa-insights-from-a-truck-accident-lawyer/) ### [Fuel Truck Accidents in Tampa: Insights from a Truck Accident Lawyer](https://brookslawgroup.com/blog/fuel-truck-accidents-in-tampa-insights-from-a-truck-accident-lawyer/) So, you have questions about fuel truck collisions? At Brooks Law Group, we have a Tampa truck accident lawyer ready to --- Source: https://brookslawgroup.com/faqs/distracted-driving-has-it-improved/