Avoiding Car Accidents from Distracted Driving This Summer

 Posted on July 13, 2018 in Distracted Driving Accidents

Heading into the middle of July, the vast majority of Americans are out and about enjoying the heat of summer. Adults and teenagers alike are making plans with friends, cranking up the music, and setting out to enjoy the seemingly endless outdoor recreation possibilities. But as you and your family go out to enjoy summer plans, make sure you remain focused while behind the wheel. In 2016 alone, 3,540 Americans lost their lives in distracted driving accidents. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving is described as any activity that diverts one’s eyes, hands, or overall awareness from the road. Throughout 2015, over 300,000 people nationwide suffered injuries that required hospitalization due to distracted driving. If you or a loved one are injured in a motor vehicle accident this summer, contacting an experienced personal injury attorney can help you and your family get the help you deserve. 

Avoiding Distractions on the Road  

While driving can seem like a monotonous task at times, remaining focused while behind the wheel can prove to be the difference between life or death. Below are a few types of distractions that lead thousands of Americans to avert their attention away from the road: 

• Mobile Phone Use While Driving: According to the NHTSA, during daylight hours, just under 500,000 drivers nationwide can be using their cell phones at any one time. Mobile phone use is the most common form of distracted driving, and it continues to pose monumental threats to the safety of drivers throughout the country. The next time you get behind the wheel, do yourself a favor and put your phone away. The text messages can wait, but your responsibilities as a driver cannot. 
• Eating and Drinking While Driving: While the vast majority of American drivers are guilty of eating while driving, the process is a dangerous proposition. Just like using your mobile phone, eating and drinking while behind the wheel requires a driver to avert their hands and eyes away from the road. It is easy to understand the urge to eat in the car, especially on long road trips or commutes, but taking the extra five minutes to eat at a restaurant or at home could save you from a motor vehicle injury.
• Controlling the Environment: While driving, many Americans enjoy the ability to select their radio stations and control the temperature of their car, but even these simple tasks fall under the umbrella of distracted driving. Searching for the right radio station or setting the ideal temperature can result in a driver averting their eyes from the road for seconds at a time. The NHTSA states that when traveling at high speeds, taking your eyes off the road for even as little as five seconds is comparable to driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. Sounds risky? It is. 

Contact an Experienced Libertyville Personal Injury Lawyer 

While avoiding these distractions can help increase the safety of you and your family, there are still other drivers that put themselves and others at risk by driving while distracted. If you or a member of your family are injured in a motor vehicle collision this summer, it is crucially important that you contact our knowledgeable and compassionate team of personal injury attorneys. 

Coping with the aftermath of a serious motor vehicle collision can be emotionally trying for the whole family. At Salvi & Maher, L.L.C., our experienced Lake County car accident attorneys can give you the help you and your family deserve. To set up a free consultation, call us today at 847-662-3303. 

Sources: 

https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving

https://www.teensafe.com/distracted-driving/100-distracted-driving-facts-and-statistics-2018/