Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

According to the Department of Transportation, every year in the United States, more than half a million people are seriously injured in traffic accidents caused by “distracted drivers.” An additional 6,000 people die in distracted-driving accidents, the latest victims of drivers whose attention was fixed on something other than the road. Distracted drivers cause one-third of all the traffic accidents on America’s roads and highways, and some safety experts say these figures are actually much higher because it’s not always possible to determine the underlying causes of many traffic accidents.

So who are these distracted drivers and what are they doing behind the wheel? Traffic safety experts estimate that in any given moment, a million or so people talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel. A million or more other drivers eat while they drive. And approximately 200,000 drivers compose and receive text messages on their cell phones while coasting along the road.

A growing body of research suggests that people who text while driving are likely the most dangerous drivers on the road, with an average reaction time that is much worse than a drunk driver’s. The time it takes texting drivers to react while behind the wheel is 35 percent less than an undistracted driver, whereas intoxicated drivers react about 21 percent slower. Nearly half of drivers under 20 admit to reading and writing text messages while driving.

Although eating behind the wheel isn’t new to Americans, it is a dangerous practice that is on the rise. The average American now consumes one-third of his or her meals while driving. Research shows that drivers who merely eat chips or sip a beverage double their chances of having an accident.

If you drive, it is your responsibility to protect yourself and those around you. The best way to do that is to put your phone down and save the eating and drinking for a more appropriate time and place. Researchers have discovered that the more finger movements a particular activity requires, the more it interferes with your ability to drive. A good rule of thumb to ensure everyone’s safety is to keep your eyes on the road, your hands on the wheel, and your mind on driving safely.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 at 7:00 am and is filed under automobile accident, safety. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.