The advent of smartphones and other mobile devices gave drivers a potentially dangerous new kind of distraction, and authorities say it has led to many new auto accidents. In recent years, lawmakers and law enforcement personnel have struggled with ways to reduce the danger of distracted driving. They have passed new laws, ramped up enforcement and launched educational campaigns. Still, people keep looking at their phones instead of the road in front of them, sometimes with tragic results. The National Safety Council estimates that cellphone use is involved in 26 percent of all traffic accidents.
Researchers have conducted numerous studies on the danger of distracted driving. One recent study attempted to determine the likelihood of texting and driving in teens as opposed to adults.
The study from the Center for Injury Research and Policy found that around 40 percent of teens ages 14 and older have texted and driven at least once in the last month. Texting and driving was more common among teens in states with a lower driving age.
In five states where the legal driving age was 15 or younger, more than half of the teens confessed to texting and driving. The new research found that nearly half of all adults admitted to texting and driving, with only 43 percent of teens saying the same.
More than one-quarter of auto accidents are linked to cellphone use behind the wheel. Some believe that smartphone use is as risky as drunk driving because it affects both a person’s attention and reaction time.
After a car accident, the medical expenses, lost wages and other expenses a person faces could be enormous. You may wish to contact an attorney experienced in helping people impacted by car accidents to discuss your case.
