Every year, we lose thousands of lives to distracted driving. While our cars may be getting safer, the amount of distractions we have has only multiplied. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, sponsored by the National Safety Council. The goal is to bring greater awareness to the dangers of distracted driving and to prevent future deaths from occurring.
The Sobering Statistics
Recently, I wrote an article about the dangers of drunk driving, and which cities in Florida have the most DUI deaths. Today, we’ll look at another major problem in our state: distracted driving. The most dangerous part of any car or vehicle is the driver behind the wheel.
If we want to make our roads safer, the first place we need to start is with each and every one of us. Nearly 100% of the crashes that take place on our streets could be avoided. The more distractions a driver has, the higher the chance of driver error. This means more crashes, injuries, and even deaths.
- At any given time, 7% if drivers on the road are on their phones
According to the NHTSA, 660,000 drivers are on their phones or other electronic devices at any given moment. Can you believe that? If you’ve ever looked around you while driving, you probably can. Cell phone use on the road is a major problem and is leading to thousands of deaths and injuries per year.
(If you’d like to learn more about Florida’s texting while driving laws, check out one of our recent blog posts by clicking that link.)
What Can You Do About It?
You can’t make safer choices for others, but you can make them for yourself. Just because we’ve all heard it before, it doesn’t make it less true. If you’re in your car, just put the phone down. There is nothing important enough to put your own life on the line. Work can wait too:
- The no. 1 cause of workplace deaths are car crashes, with distracted driving as a leader factor
If you’re driving with a friend, family member or coworker, hold them accountable. There’s nothing wrong with speaking up if it will help you get where you’re going safely.
Educate your friends and family about the dangers of distracted driving. When you hop in your car to drive, switch your phone over to the ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode until you’re in a position where you can safely check it again.
The reality is, there’s no complex or impressive fix to distracted driving. It’s an easy fix. Put the phone down and leave the distractions at home. As a result, you just might save a life or your own.
Contact Brooks Law Group
Distracted driving may have a simple fix, but it’s also a fix that is frequently ignored. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, you need legal guidance. At the Brooks Law Group, we have a team of distracted driver lawyers that will fight for you. We have the experience needed to get you the compensation that you deserve.
Call our offices at (800) LAW-3030 or fill out our online case evaluation to get your free, no obligation case review today. If you’ve been injured, you need a law firm that cares about you. You need Brooks!
