When a person gets behind the wheel, his or her main concern should be driving safely. Unfortunately, many drivers are thinking about other things and doing certain things that should wait until they’ve arrived at their destination. You know that distracted driving in Louisiana is a major concern, and the problem is not going away any time soon.
There are more things to distract a driver than ever before. Cellphones are the main reason for distracted driving as most drivers have them, but more and more vehicles are coming with potentially distracting features. Regardless of the source or the reason for distraction, an unfocused driver is always dangerous and always facing a higher risk for a car accident.
What should you know?
Distracted driving is anything that diverts a driver’s attention while operating a vehicle. This means that it does not only involve holding a cellphone. In fact, it is possible to be dangerously distracted with both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Many people misunderstand distracted driving and how dangerous it actually is for every person on the road. Consider the following:
- Experts believe that the numbers involving distraction-related car accidents are not completely accurate because of underreporting.
- Statistics indicate that thousands of people die each year in distracted driving accidents, and hundreds of thousands of people suffer injuries.
- The rate of distraction-related accidents is much higher for teens than for people over the age of 20.
- Distracted drivers are to blame for almost 60% of teen-involved auto accidents.
Types of distraction
Distracted driving is complex, and there are three main types. Any of these by themselves is dangerous, but it is especially dangerous when an activity involves more than one type of distraction. Manual distraction involves the hands, and cognitive distraction involves the brain. Visual distraction involves the eyes.
A person is responsible for the choices he or she makes behind the wheel. It is up to each driver to put down the phone, avoid doing things that are distracting and maintain focus while on the road. If you believe your accident was the result of a distracted driver, you could have the option to pursue recourse through the civil justice system.
