Every day, when you climb behind the wheel of your car and take off, you are putting faith in your vehicle and your own driving abilities. While there are things that can help you control both, there is another factor that can be totally out of your hands: how responsible the other drivers you experience are behind the wheel. The statistics associated with distracted driving are alarming, and people end up contacting a car accident attorney Fort Wayne almost on a daily basis because of these incidents. Take a look at some of the most prevalent causes of distracted driving.
Cell Phones
Hands down, cell phones are the leading cause of distracted driving. It is estimated that 1.6 crashes each year are caused by cell phone use while driving, making cell phones the most prevalent distraction overall. Whether a phone is being used for talking or texting, it can still distract the driver from what is going on around them. Many automobile manufacturers have taken the issue so seriously that they have begun to implement features into vehicles that make using a phone while driving easier, such as text read-back programs that work with the vehicle’s stereo system.
Other Passengers
It is typical for drivers to have other people in their vehicle when they drive, but even something that seems so harmless can be enough to cause a distraction. This is especially a problem with teen drivers who can have rowdy passengers and not be all that experienced with operating a motor vehicle. Teen drivers are not the only ones distracted by other passengers. However, adults can have issues as well. For example, a mother who is trying to keep a fussy infant consoled in the backseat could easily be distracted.
Food & Drinks
Even eating or drinking while behind the wheel can be deemed as a distraction that can have dangerous consequences. Having to look away at your food repeatedly or reach for a drink takes your eyes off of the road for a moment, which can be just enough time for something unexpected to occur. Some of the worst car accidents that result in needing a Houston accident lawyer have involved food and drinks and a distracted driver.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that 3,166 deaths after auto accidents were relative to distracted driving in just 2017 alone. If you have been involved in an auto accident that has left you with injuries because a driver was distracted, reach out to a Houston accident lawyer for professional legal advice.
