It is no big secret that distracted driving is dangerous. From safety campaigns to laws regulating cell phone use behind the wheel, most people that you know already understand just how risky it really is. However, that does not stop some Texas drivers from texting and driving at the same time.
Of course, cell phones are not the only distraction on the road, but they are a pretty significant problem. Even the type of phone a driver owns can affect whether he or she will use it while driving. A recent survey shows just how big this problem really is.
Who is texting?
In a survey of 2,000 American drivers, just over 37% said they completely agreed that using phones while driving is dangerous. That same Jan. 2020 survey also found that nearly 29% of participants admitted that texting behind the wheel is their biggest problem. It is not the only distracted behavior these adults are struggling with either. Other phone related distractions include:
- Video chatting
- Taking photos and videos
- Reading and responding to work email.
Drivers who have phones running Apple iOS are much more likely to reply to a text message. Around 59% of Apple users said there is a huge amount of pressure when it comes to answering text messages while driving. Approximately 18% of people with Android operating systems said the same. There was also a huge difference between attitudes toward video chatting, with 70% of Apple users admitting to doing so versus about 24% of Android users.
Phones are not the only problem
It is easy to blame all texting drivers for everything, but it is not accurate. Distracted driving has been a problem for as long as driving has existed. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration breaks down distractions into three categories:
- Visual
- Manual
- Cognitive
Phone use falls under visual distractions, but so does anything else that takes your eyes off the road — even glancing at kids in the back seat. A driver changing the radio or picking up an item is engaged in a manual distraction. Cognitive distractions are much harder to spot because a driver might look focused but could actually be thinking about his or her day at work instead of the task at hand.
Distracted driving injuries are serious
Experts estimate that distracted drivers injured around 391,000 people in 2017. That same year, gun violence only killed 39,773 people. It is not just injuries either. As of 2019, distracted drivers caused 8.5% of that year’s fatal accidents.
Of course, you already know just how serious those injuries can be. You also know that you need help. Dealing with things like pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost wages can be much easier after successfully navigating a personal injury lawsuit. But proving that the other driver was texting and driving is not always easy, so do not leave things up to chance. Instead, you should work with an experienced, professional attorney who is willing to fight for the compensation you need.