Distracted Driving Accidents

Distracted driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving, or it can be even worse. This is unfortunate because distracted driving is also more common. Most drivers distract themselves regularly while driving, and many of them don’t even realize it. Some forms of distractions are subtle or seem so commonplace that they seem “fine” until a terrible accident happens.

Driver distractions that happen each day include:

• Texting: Nearly every driver on the road owns a smartphone, so the risk that you are near a driver who has their smartphone in their hand or out of their pocket while driving is quite high.
• Eating or drinking: Taking a swig of water or a bite of a breakfast bar might seem like it is fine to do while driving, but it is actually incredibly dangerous and distracting. Only eat or drink while your car is completely stopped, and the engine is not running.
• Talking with passengers: Most people like to talk with their passengers while driving, but most people probably don’t realize how distracting this can be. Passenger distractions are more likely among teenagers who are still figuring out how to drive safely.
• Reading billboards: Roadside billboards are meant to distract you by showing you a bright advertisement while you are driving down a freeway. Oddly, these intentional distractions are not unlawful.
• Adjusting the GPS or radio: Changing a music selection or checking the GPS might take only a few seconds, but those are a few seconds too long if the vehicle is in motion.