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Distracted driving is the leading cause of preventable auto accidents, and claimed 3,166 lives in 2017 alone. Get the facts on what makes distracted driving so dangerous, and what you can do if you or someone you love has been harmed by a distracted driver.
A Dangerous Distraction
Using a smartphone while driving is one of the most dangerous distractions that a motorist can participate in. Reading and composing a text or an email, or using a phone to place a call, diverts multiple forms of a driver’s attention away from driving, including the following:
Visual attention. Texting or using a cell phone requires a driver to take their eyes off the road. Just taking your eyes off the road for five seconds while moving at 55 miles per hour is equivalent to driving the distance of an entire football field with your eyes closed.
Manual attention. Cell phone use requires the use of your hands, which means at least one hand is taken off the steering wheel when using a phone while driving. This exacerbates the risks when a driver has their eyes taken off the road as well.
Cognitive focus. Using a phone while driving takes the driver’s mental focus away from driving, which leads to “inattentional blindness.” This causes drivers to have a reduced ability to see their surroundings, including things in plain sight. This means that even hands-free cell phone use still creates the risk of a crash.
Due to these risks and dangers, many states have implemented laws that prohibit drivers from using or holding their phones while driving. Unfortunately, many motorists ignore these laws and continue to engage in these dangerous, distracted behaviors.
If you or someone you love has been harmed by a distracted driver, our attorneys at Morici, Longo & Associates can help you obtain justice. We’re committed to protecting the rights of the injured and their loved ones.
Contact us today at (312) 779-0366 to learn how we can help you.