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'I'm sorry. I was texting,' a young driver told a witness after a collision with a church bus that killed 13 in Texas on March 29, 2017, according to Fox News.

This is a horrific example of what distracted driving can cause not only to the victims, the victims’ families and friends but the distracted driver himself whose life is now changed forever. 

The technology of making phone calls, dictating texts or emails and updating social media while driving is available, but all of these actions are proven to increase the risk of crashes. To highlight this, the National Safety Council (NSC) observes April as “Distracted Driving Awareness Month” to draw attention to this epidemic. NSC says, “Put safety first and just drive.” 

Every driver is being asked by the NSC to make the following pledge to be an attentive driver. 

I pledge to Take Back My Drive for my own safety and for others with whom I share the roads. I choose to not drive distracted in any way. 

I will not: 

• Have a phone conversation – handheld, hands-free, or via Bluetooth
• Text or send Snapchats
• Use voice-to-text features in my vehicle’s dashboard system
• Update Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vimeo, Vine or other social media
• Check or send emails
• Take selfies or film videos
• Input destinations into GPS (while the vehicle is in motion)
• Call or message someone else when I know they are driving. 

Distracted Driving Statistics 

The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) provides the following statistics: 

• At any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving.
• Five seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting. When traveling at 55mph, that's enough time to cover the length of a football field blindfolded.
• Ten percent of all drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crashes. 

Types of distractions: 

The FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) says there are three types of distraction: 

1. Visual distraction takes your eyes off the road.
2. Manual distraction takes your hands off the wheel.
3. Cognitive distraction takes your mind off the task of driving. 

All three types of distraction, make driving dangerous. 

According to NHTSA, approximately 9 percent of drivers are using handheld or hands-free cell phones at any moment during the day. Studies have shown that drivers using cell phones react to situations more slowly, whether they are hands-free or not. 

Florida Distracted Driving Law 

Florida State Statute 316.305 prohibits texting while driving in the State of Florida.  Florida has identified Distracted Driving as a traffic safety emphasis area. As part of a national effort to encourage drivers to pull into a safe location to use their phones for calling, texting and accessing mobile apps, Florida has designated 64 Rest Areas, Welcome Centers and Turnpike Service Plazas throughout the state as “Safe Phone Zones,” more than any other state.  

“Distracted driving kills and maims. If this blog with its examples and statistics is not enough to stop readers from distracted driving, then perhaps viewing the  NHTSA video ‘Famous Last Words’ will,” said Fort Myers Personal Injury Lawyer, Randall Spivey.

Fort Myers 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 (1%) percent 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 the 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 239.793.7748.