Statistics can be beneficial to understanding why a car crash might have happened in Louisiana and across the nation. Since distracted driving is a problem that is so frequently referenced as a cause of auto accidents, studies are conducted to examine its circumstances. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that 14 percent of crashes in the United States, and 12 percent of crashes throughout the world happen because of distracted driving. A new study into what leads to distracted driving shows that certain demographics may be more prone to the practice than others.
In the study, young males were more likely to be distracted by cell phones, but they were also distracted by changing the radio station and talking to passengers. In addition, people whose personalities were deemed to be extroverted and neurotic were more prone to being distracted. The people who were more likely to admit to being distracted were those who thought it was a socially acceptable behavior or thought that it was uncontrollable. Older women and people who believe that it is controllable were less likely to be distracted.
The purpose of another part of the study was to try to make those who might be distracted drivers think twice about distracted driving. This was done by having these drivers answer a series of questions. For example, they were asked “if-then” questions about such subjects as texting and driving. However, this did not reduce distracted driving to a significant degree. The number of crashes that are due to distracted driving is believed to be underreported because of a lack of evidence or a failure to admit that it was taking place. This means the practice may be worse than the statistics show.
When there is a car crash, there is a chance that it was caused by a driver who was not paying as close attention to the road as was necessary to remain safe. An auto accident can result in people having injuries, losing time at work, needing extensive medical care and even losing their lives. Discussing the matter with an attorney who handles cases involving car accidents may be helpful to those who have suffered damages due to another driver’s negligence.
Source: npr.org, “Young Men, Frequent Drivers Most Likely To Get Distracted While Driving,” April Fulton, Nov. 17, 2017
