Everyone knows the danger of texting while driving, yet every year distracted driving rates in Texas soar, especially in the summertime. A distraction is considered anything that takes your eyes off the road for two or more seconds. Distracted driving is responsible for 9 deaths and 1000 injuries across the US every day.
AAA Texas posits that this statistic isn’t an accurate depiction of the texting and driving rate, as many people are not likely to admit that they were texting at the time an accident occurred.
Distracted driving is still a problem
Linda von Quintus is the Vice President of Government and Community Affairs with AAA Texas. In regards to the Don’t Drive Intexticated initiative, she said; “Just as anti-drunk driving campaigns and related efforts have been effective, our communities must come together to spread knowledge about the dangers of distracted driving.”
AAA is hoping that by placing further emphasis on the dangers of driving while distracted, they can help reduce the ever-growing rate of accidents throughout Texas and the U.S.
Here are some tips to prevent driving on the road while you are distracted:
- Take a minute before you start driving to get ready. Enter your destination into your navigation system. Start that perfect road trip playlist. Then put your phone down and drive.
- If, for some reason, the text simply cannot wait, pull over. Once you are stopped at a safe distance away from other cars, send the text. Then, take a moment to re-focus your mind on driving before you pull back into the road.
- Ask for help. If you are not driving the car alone, ask a passenger to choose the next song or take over navigation.
- If you are riding in the car with a distracted driver, say something. By speaking up, you could prevent a future accident.
The call or text can wait.
We all lead busy lives. With all the texting, phone calls, errands and meetings, we can feel overwhelmed by all we need to do in a day. However, drivers must uphold their duty of care and pay attention to the road ahead.
If you or a loved one was injured in a crash caused by a distracted driver, you should speak to an attorney at Tracey & Fox as soon as possible. Contact us today and find out how we can help you.