Have you ever been stuck at a light because the car in front of you fails to notice that it had turned green?
Have you started to notice more and more cars drifting in and out of your lane while driving home from work? Well, you’re not alone.
With a busy and more connected world, people are choosing to multi-task while driving.
Most drivers don’t fully consider the potential risk. The U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that in 2016 there were 3,450 people killed in fatal accidents caused by distracted drivers.
Accidents caused by distraction have become an increasing concern for motorists.
For more than 55 years our team at Watson Injury Law has been helping clients who have been injured by distracted drivers.
To help you stay safe on the roadway, know the tell-tale signs of a distracted driver so you can avoid them in the future.
There are three main types of driver distractions:
- Visual (Doing anything that takes your eyes off the road) – This could include looking at your cellphone or other items in your car.
- Manual (Doing anything that takes your hands off the wheel) – This could include eating, adjusting dials or climate controls, or reaching for things in the back seat.
- Cognitive (Things that take your mind off driving) – This could include talking on the phone or having lengthy discussions with other passengers.
Texting is considered the most dangerous activity because it combines all 3 types of distraction, impairing someone’s ability to stay focused on the road. According to the NHTSA “Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.”
As a motorist, the smart choice is to avoid vehicles that display abnormal driving behaviors such as:
- Tailgating (driving too closely behind)
- Missing traffic signals
- Ignoring traffic signals
- Drifting out of the lane
- Failing to respond to obvious hazards
- Speeding or slowing down for no apparent reason
If necessary, stop and pull over to call the police to report erratic behavior of other drivers.
If you or someone you know has been injured by a distracted driver, we want to help.
Call us today to speak with one of our personal injury attorneys. Our primary goal is to make sure you recover from your injuries and ensure you are compensated for everything you’ve been through.