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3 important scientific facts about distracted driving

On Behalf of | Oct 20, 2024 | Car Accidents |

Distracted driving is a public safety nightmare. Commuters and others who spend hours on the road every week generally dislike all of the time spent in their vehicles. They may try to multitask while driving, which runs contrary to what researchers know about human neurology.

People generally cannot focus on more than one thing at a time, even if they insist they can. Motorists who read emails, send text messages or enjoy a meal while driving put themselves and others at risk of a serious, preventable collision.

There is cold hard data to back up the idea that distracted driving has become one of the top public safety concerns on the roads. The three scientific facts may give people reasons to hold others accountable for causing preventable crashes due to distraction.

Distracted driving kills thousands annually

There is little question that digital distraction, in particular, is a pernicious threat to everyone on the road. Drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and motorcycle riders are all at risk if someone nearby decides to handle a mobile phone. 3,308 people died because of distracted driving in 2022. More than 289,000 people incurred injured in crashes caused by distraction.

Texting at intersections isn’t safe

Quite a few people assume they have the solution to avoid distracted driving. They only pick up their phones when they stop their vehicles at a red light. While that may seem logical, it isn’t as safe as people assume. Researchers have found that people remain cognitively distracted for an average of 27 seconds after they put their phones back down and resume driving after handling the device.

Phone addiction is at an all-time high

Mobile devices play into the subconscious human desire for dopamine. Drivers may have a hard time ignoring the ping that comes with an incoming message, email or social media notification. Even noticing the phone vibrating or lighting up can be enough to cause cognitive distraction. People have a hard time letting go of that quick source of dopamine even when they know that they should focus on their vehicles for optimal safety.

People affected by distracted driving crashes may have grounds to take legal action or to pursue insurance compensation from a party who caused a crash. Understanding how dangerous distracted driving is can help people make safer choices and feel more confident about their decision to hold others accountable for crashes.

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