On the road, you need to keep an eye out for various risks. Aside from weather-related hazards, drunk drivers and chaotic traffic, you should focus on the prevalence of distracted driving and understand the risks that come with this behavior. Sadly, distracted driving claims many lives each year and leaves many people seriously hurt.
There are different types of distractions and some people do not realize that certain behaviors or activities interfere with their driving abilities.
The consequences of distracted driving
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 2,800 people lost their lives as a result of distracted driving. Furthermore, estimates suggest that around 400,000 people sustained injuries in these accidents. Moreover, distracted driving affects many victims who are not in vehicles. In 2018, roughly 20% of fatal distracted driving accidents involved bicyclists, pedestrians and others outside of vehicles.
Distracted driving risk factors
Using a phone behind the wheel causes many drivers to become distracted on the road. However, there are many other risk factors that result in this dangerous and reckless behavior. For example, talking to others in the vehicle, reading, eating and watching videos can also cause a driver to lose focus.
Some distractions divert a driver’s mental focus or cause them to take their eyes off of the road, while others cause drivers to take their hands off of the wheel. All forms of distractions are dangerous and if you sustained an injury in a distracted driving crash caused by a negligent driver, you need to take a firm stand for your rights.