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Analyzing Statistics On Distracted Driving

On Behalf of | Aug 9, 2021 | Motor Vehicle Accidents |

On the road, you need to look out for distracted drivers. Unfortunately, distracted drivers often fail to look out for other vehicles and follow traffic safety guidelines. Drivers become distracted for various reasons, whether they use their phone behind the wheel or talk to other people in the car, read, eat or take part in another activity that diverts their mental focus or takes their hands off of the wheel.

It is helpful to review statistics on distracted driving in order to understand the risks these drivers pose and the prevalence of this dangerous behavior.

Data on the prevalence of distracted driving

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a study found that among high school students who drove in 2019, 39% reported emailing or texting while driving in the past 30 days. Moreover, roughly eight people lose their lives in distracted driving accidents in the U.S. every day. Unfortunately, many instances of distracted driving go unnoticed and unreported.

The consequences of distracted driving

According to estimates, about 400,000 people suffered injuries in distracted driving accidents over the course of 2018. Moreover, these crashes claimed the lives of more than 2,800 people during 2018. Furthermore, roughly 20% of the people who lost their lives in distracted driving accidents were not inside of a vehicle when the accident occurred, such as bicyclists and pedestrians.

Some distractions cause drivers to take their hands off of the wheel, stop looking at the road or lose mental focus. When a distracted driver causes an accident, they should not get away with their actions.