Distracted driving is one of the top reasons for car accidents in the United States. Part of the reason for this is that it comes in numerous forms. Drivers have to constantly be vigilant if they’re going to avoid distraction.
One of the easiest ways to do this is to not use a cellphone in the car. People often use their phone as a GPS, to listen to music, to browse social media, to take pictures and videos or just to make phone calls and send and receive text messages. But turning the phone off puts an end to all of these distractions.
The issue for parents
The problem for parents is that some studies find that drivers with toddlers in the car may be even more distracted than drivers who are using the phone. For instance, two-thirds of parents asked about their distraction level said that it went up when they had toddler-aged children in the car with them.
How did these distractions occur? Roughly 80% of parents claimed that they would turn around or reach back to give their child a drink. Similarly, 78% said that they would pass out snacks while driving. Another 40% said they had to engage with electronic devices that their toddlers were using. Moreover, 67% of parents claimed that children growing older actually made the issue worse because toddlers began throwing tantrums.
These statistics help to shed some light on the distracted driving issues in the United States, as well as demonstrate why distraction is so hard to avoid. Those who get injured by negligent, distracted drivers need to understand how to seek financial compensation for their medical bills and other costs.
