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April is National Distracted Driving Month.

In 2019, distracted driving was a reported factor in 8.5 percent of fatal motor vehicle crashes.

Safercar.gov says, “You’ve got one job and that’s to drive safely. So make a positive, lifesaving change that will make you safer year-round; before starting the car, shut down your phone.”

TeenSafe.com reports that texting and driving is a big issue in today’s society, even showing up in pop culture. TV shows such as House of Cards and One Tree Hill have dealt with distracted driving issues.

TeenSafe said a poll showed that 77 percent of adults and 55 percent of teen drivers believe that they can easily manage texting while simultaneously navigating the road. TeenSafe says this is unfounded because texting while driving increases the chance of an accident by 23 times.

Teens spend a lot of time using social media. Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) reports that social media can effectively be used to share information about texting and driving. These websites, i.e. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest and YouTube, are all sites frequented by teens. Reaching teens and increasing their awareness can reduce distracted driving accidents.

It only takes about five seconds, on average, to read or send a text. In that span of time, a driver’s eyes are on the phone and not on the road. A vehicle that is traveling at 55 mph can travel the length of a football field in that time.

Distracted driving is not just texting and driving. It includes anything diverting a driver’s attention from his or her main task of driving. This includes:

• Texting, talking or swiping on a cell phone
• Eating and drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Grooming (makeup, shaving, etc.)
• Reading
• Using a navigation system
• Watching a video
• Adjusting the audio system
• Other vehicles
• Looking at pedestrians

In 2017, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 3,166 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in the United States in which one or more drivers was distracted. A nationally-represented survey showed 52 percent of respondents reported talking on a handheld cell phone while driving in the past 30 days, 41 percent reported reading texts or emails, and 32 percent reported typing texts or emails while driving. It is clear that drivers are engaging in non-driving-related tasks.  

“If you or a loved one is injured as the result of another’s negligence, please contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. We are available to assist you 24/7, and there are no costs or attorney fees unless we get a monetary recovery for you,” said Cape Coral Personal Injury Lawyer Randall Spivey.

Cape Coral Personal Injury Lawyer Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one percent (1%) of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A, in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com. Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County at 239.793.7748.