The U.S. is experiencing a higher-than-normal spate of motor vehicle accidents.
Memphis, Tennesse was ranked #1 in a ConsumerAffairs report listing the U.S. cities with the most car crashes. Furthermore, Mississippi landed in the top spot in the states with the most crashes.
St. Louis didn’t fare well in pedestrian fatalities in 2023. More pedestrians were killed that year than in previous years, according to Trailnet’s Crash Report. Distracted driving was responsible for the majority of those accidents.
Taking your eyes off the road for a few seconds can change lives or claim them. Ask any St. Louis car accident attorney and they’ll tell you most of their car accident injuries are due to distracted drivers.
In this article, we’ll discuss the role of distracted driving and how it has contributed to the high accident rate in the U.S.
What is Distracted Driving?
As the term suggests, distracted driving can be anything that distracts a driver from concentrating on the road ahead.
As long as your attention and energy are diverted from the act of driving, that is a distraction.
According to the CDC, the chances of causing an accident are greatly increased if you:
- Take your eyes off the road
- Take your hands off the wheel
- Take your mind off driving.
The sad reality is that one in five people die in crashes in the U.S. involving a distracted driver. They were either walking, riding a bike or standing outside a vehicle.
Individuals are left with questions after an accident, according to TorHoerman Law. During these uncertain times, it’s best to consult a car accident attorney.
An experienced attorney will be able to answer the following questions:
- Will I be compensated for my injuries?
- Is my case strong enough to pursue a claim?
- Will the insurance cover the accident costs?
- How will the legal process work?
Missouri, We Have a Problem
Missouri officials launched the Buckle Up Phone Down campaign in response to the state’s rise in distracted driving.
The seven-year initiative is hoping to target work zone fatalities. The Missouri Department of Transportation explained that 35 people lost their lives in work zone crashes in the state. It was a record high for Missouri.
During a press conference, NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman said about 289,310 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes that involved distracted drivers in 2022. Unfortunately, she added that distracted driving accidents are likely underreported.
Possible Solutions
A panel discussion hosted by the National Safety Council explored solutions on how employers could implement strategies to curb the phenomenon.
OSHA administrator Doug Parker said the onus was on companies to provide training on how to avoid distracted driving behavior. He also mentioned employers should ensure workers don’t use company-issued devices or personal cell phones when driving.
Technology can be leveraged to encourage better driving habits. Teletrac Navma announced its AI-powered dashcam earlier this year. Features such as driver distraction, cell phone usage, and drowsy driver detection are incorporated into the IQ camera.
Increased Insurance Premiums
More U.S. states are vigorously enforcing distracted driving laws. Thus far, 48 states have banned texting while driving. And yet, insurance premiums continue to increase.
States with the highest insurance penalties for distracted driving are Vermont, Montana and Oregon. It’s no surprise that auto insurance premiums increased by 16% nationally since 2011, reported the Insurance Journal.
A survey conducted by Erie Insurance made some interesting observations. The survey of more than 2,000 people found that 73% of respondents said texting while driving was socially unacceptable.
Nine out of 10 (90%) said if they were a passenger in a vehicle and the driver started texting, they would likely tell them to stop.
Smartphone Menace
The National Distracted Driving Coalition was created by the NTSB. Its mission is to research and propose actionable solutions to distracted driving. The biggest culprit? The smartphone.
A Cambridge Mobile Telematics report found that drivers interacted with their phones on more than half of their trips in 2022.
Even more startling was that drivers increased their smartphone use and the time spent on their phones while behind the wheel.
Distracted driving has become such an issue in the U.S. that there’s a month (April) dedicated to the awareness of it. The NHTSA compares it to a deadly epidemic on U.S. roads.
If people took the time to be mindful of their driving habits, it would cost fewer lives. Don’t become another statistic. Drive responsibly or face the consequences.
