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Distracted driving is a dangerous driving behavior. Between 2012 and 2020, more than 29,000 people have died in crashes related to driver distraction. In 2020 alone, 3,142 people died and 324,652 were injured. While we hear catch phrases centered around texting and driving (‘Arrive alive, don’t text and drive.’), distracted driving involves many activities that fall in three types, visual, manual and cognitive.
Distracted driving is any activity that takes your attention away from driving. This includes things such as eating, drinking, changing the radio station, applying make-up, brushing your hair, talking to others in the car, along with texting, emailing and talking on the phone.
The Center for Disease Control defines three types of distractions:
Texting while driving involves all three types of distractions — visual, manual, and cognitive — making it an extremely dangerous driving behavior.
The average text message takes about five seconds to respond to. If you are driving, that means five seconds when your eyes are off the road, five seconds when your hand or hands are off the wheel and five seconds when your mind is not thinking about driving.
In those five seconds, your car (traveling at an average speed of 55 mph) can go the length of a football field.
Those five seconds — taken to simply respond to a text message — can lead to catastrophic results such as brain injuries, broken backs and other fractures, internal injuries, disfigurement, paralysis, and fatalities to both the texter as well as other drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, and pedestrians.
It is especially important for young drivers to be educated. They are in the process of developing their driving skills and oftentimes may think they are immune to such negligent behavior. Young drivers may be more connected to technology but less able to respond to risks on the road.
In 2020 (Teen Distracted Driver Data from NHTSA):
According to the CDC, some groups are more at risk for distracted driving, such as young adult and teen drivers.
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident in which you suffered serious injuries due to another’s negligence, having an attorney who is your advocate can offer you peace of mind during your recovery. Call Nash & Franciskato at (877) 284-6600. We have a successful track record of helping accident victims collect the compensation they deserve.
One of our experienced staff will speak with you personally and will provide you with a free, no-obligation review of your case.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published October 21, 2015. It was reviewed on April 2, 2023, updated for content and accuracy and re-published.