Most of our discussion of distracted driving here has been on the usual suspects involved here: texting while driving, for instance, or talking on the phone while driving. However, distracted driving involves a lot more than texting or talking and recent studies are showing just how many other things that drivers are doing besides concentrating on driving their vehicles on the roads we all share.
Distracted Drivers Are Taking Selfies, Surfing the Web, and Checking EMails While Driving
Consider the recent research from AT&T that reveals 17% of drivers admit to taking selfies or other photos with their phones while they are driving their vehicle. Their study also found the following disturbing revelations:
Smartphone activities people say they do while driving include:
Text2 (61%)
Email2 (33%)
Surf the net (28%)
Facebook3 (27%)
Snap a selfie/photo (17%)
Twitter3 (14%)
Instagram3 (14%)
Shoot a video (12%)
Snapchat3 (11%)
Video chat (10%)
Other unsettling findings include:
62% keep their smartphones within easy reach while driving.
30% of people who post to Twitter while driving do it “all the time.”
22% who access social networks while driving cite addiction as a reason.
Of those who shoot videos behind the wheel, 27% think they can do it safely while driving.
Proving Distracted Driver Doing Bad Things in a Car Crash Claim
Now, ponder that you or a loved one has been in an accident and seriously hurt by someone who was distracted from driving. How angry would you be to learn that the other driver was busy taking a selfie or checking their email when the accident occurred?
A bigger question: what are you going to do to prove your claim that they are at fault? Experienced injury lawyers may be needed to help you prove that there was distracted driving on the part of the other driver that caused your crash and the resulting injuries.
1. Over 25% of all auto accidents in the United States are caused by a driver using his or her phone.
2. The number of accidents caused by texting while driving alone rose 6%+ in 2013 alone.
3. Over 1,200,000 million accidents in 2013 were caused by someone talking on their phone while driving.
For more on all the things that people are doing in their cars instead of focusing on driving the vehicle, watch this:
