Distracted Drivers and the Trail of Death They Leave Behind
Americans are very good at many things, including killing each other in vehicle accidents. We continue our multitasking lives when we’re behind the wheel. That lack of focus on driving causes thousands of deaths and injuries annually. We know it’s dangerous, but we do it anyway.
If you are injured in an automobile accident by a distracted driver, consult a Castillo & Associates attorney who will investigate your case, gather crucial evidence, and protect your right to full monetary compensation. Call us today at 800-497-9774.
Why is Distracted Driving Dangerous?
The National Safety Council (NSC) states that most people can safely drive with an average workload on their brains, but we cannot “multitask” with different distractions while driving. We focus back and forth between various tasks. It can’t handle multiple tasks simultaneously, though it may appear that way.
If you’re driving and doing something else:
- Your brain processes one as a primary task while the other is secondary
- The primary one gets the most focus, and the secondary is monitored in the background
- Your brain switches back and forth between driving and the distraction, focusing on one and monitoring the other
- Its normal information processing is interrupted
- As a result, your ability to drive safely may be severely impacted
A critical factor leading to an accident may be your response to a sudden hazard (bad weather, another driver’s actions, or an object in the roadway). If you’re trying to multitask and putting an increased workload on your brain, its ability to process information slows, so you’re much less likely to respond quickly enough to avoid a crash, especially at highway speeds.
The Number of Americans Killed in Vehicle Accidents in One Year is About the Same as Those Killed in Action and Dying of Their Wounds During the Entire Viet Nam War
About 46,000 people were killed in vehicle accidents in 2022, up nearly a quarter from the prior year, according to the NSC. How many distracted drivers caused these accidents is unknown. They may’ve been killed in the crash or won’t admit they were distracted before the accident.
The problem may be much bigger than we imagine. Without solid facts, it’s more difficult to convince drivers, smartphone and app makers, and the federal government to address this problem. Bruce Landsberg, vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, is quoted by the Los Angeles Times as saying:
“This is an epidemic…Everybody talks about fatalities, but there are hundreds of thousands or more life-altering injuries — broken limbs, brain injuries, horrible burns. This doesn’t have to happen. These crashes are not accidents. They are completely preventable.”
Landsberg is a member of the National Distracted Driving Coalition (NDDC). It’s a group trying to persuade motor vehicle manufacturers, smartphone makers, lawmakers, software companies, and distracted drivers that this problem is a public health crisis that deserves action.
How Common Is This Problem?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that of 38,824 highway deaths in 2020, 3,142 were caused by distracted drivers (less than 10%). NHTSA states there were also 324,652 distracted driving-related injuries that year. The NDDC states that the actual number of distraction-related deaths may be closer to 25% to 30% of the total (9,700 to 11,650).
The NDDC released a report in December showing the results of studies and surveys on the topic. A 2022 survey by the Travelers Insurance Company reports:
- 77% admitted they used a phone while driving
- 74% used map apps
- 56% read an email or email
- 27% used social media apps
- 19% shopped online
A State Farm Insurance survey released last year asked drivers what they did while driving. The results were the following distractions they engaged in “always” or “often”:
- More than half of those responding stated they read or send text messages
- 43% watched cellphone videos
- More than a third engaged in video chats
Smartphones are just one distraction. More vehicles have video screens filled with information. This touchscreen replaces many manual controls. You can also be distracted by eating, drinking, and talking to others. Fatigued and intoxicated drivers are more likely to be distracted.
Have You Been Injured, or a Family Member Killed, By a Distracted Driver? A Car Accident Attorney Can Advise You
Distracted driving is a pervasive danger, and it won’t end any time soon. You may be entitled to compensation if a negligent, distracted driver injures you. Castillo & Associates car accident lawyers have more than three decades of experience with auto negligence cases. We will protect your rights to the compensation you deserve. For a no-obligation consultation, contact the firm today.
Attorney Domingo Castillo handles workers’ compensation, personal injury, family law & immigration throughout Southern California from our 5 offices: Indio, Pomona, Riverside, San Diego & Cathedral City. We help clients file injury claims, obtain residency & citizenship, and we assist families through divorce, child custody and all family law matters.
