This month recognizes Distracted Driving as a growing problem and opportunity to build public awareness. In case you missed it, distracted driving is illegal and one of the most dangerous things you can do while operating a car. Numerous studies have come out with shocking data that I share with Bellingham drivers in hopes that it can change this habit and make our roads safer.
Distracted driving makes you 23 times likelier to get into a crash.
Multitasking with electronic media caused a temporary 10-point decrease in IQ – a worse effect than smoking marijuana.
Reach for your phone – before you even use it – increases your risk of involvement in an accident by three times.
At any given minute on America’s roadways, an estimated 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving.
There is never a good reason to drive while distracted. Drivers know this, and many of them are aware that it is illegal to do so in the first place. However, the behavior continues, and drivers use their phone to talk, text, email, or surf the web, visit social media, take photos, program their navigation guides, read a Kindle, search for a different song, turn around and settle an argument between children, pet their dog… get the idea? All of these behaviors are illegal and extremely dangerous while driving. And absolutely all of them can be avoided by focusing on the drive.
If you need to break the habit, make sure your phone is inaccessible. Put it far enough from you that you know you can’t reach it without stopping the vehicle. Download an app that alerts callers and texters that you are driving and therefore unavailable. Program your navigation before you begin driving. There is simply no reason to do anything other than drive when you consider how disasterous a car accident can be.
If you were the victim of a distracted driver, please call Bill Coats Law immediately and set up a free consultation to talk about your case. Don’t try to go it alone against the insurance companies even if you think your case is straightforward. We offer a no fee guarantee. Call 360-303-0601 today.