Distracted driving is a growing problem with United States drivers of all ages. The number of distracted driver deaths in the United States stands at over 3,000 people per year. This number is sometimes even more, as 2007 saw 5,988 distracted driving deaths. However, the number has consistently stayed above 3,000 people for the last decade.
Even though distracted driving takes thousands of lives per year and is the leading cause of death with teenagers (surpassing drunk driving), the state of Missouri has not outlawed the use of cell phones while behind the wheel. While it is illegal for drivers aged 21 and younger to use a phone while driving, this law does not apply to others.
The problem with distracted driving is beyond just teenagers. As a matter of fact, drivers aged 20 to 29 make up 27% of all fatal distracted driving deaths in the United States. And even though the Missouri law is behind on this issue, a car accident involving a distracted driver could be taken to court with the same severity as a drunk driver. Many attorneys, such as Douglas Horn, believe that distracted is just as negligent and dangerous as drunk driving. After all, texting while driving is more than twice as likely to cause an accident as drunk driving. If someone is involved in a crash and cell phone records show the phone was sending messages during the time of collision, it could be used as evidence in a reckless driver case.
Here are a few other statistics to keep in mind when it comes to distracted driving:
- A drunk driver is 11 times more likely to get in a car accident while a texting driver is 23 more likely to get in a car accident.
- If you take your eyes off the road for 4.6 seconds while driving 55 miles per hour (the average time your eyes are off the road when texting), you will have just driven through an entire football field blind.
- 18% of all crashes resulting in injury are a result of distracted driving.
- 10% of all drivers aged 16-19 involved in a fatal accident were reported as distracted drivers.
- Drivers aged 20-29 make up 27% of all drivers in fatal distraction-related accidents.
- 25% of teenage drivers respond to text messages every time they drive.
- 21% of fatal car crashes involving teen drivers were the result of cell phone usage while driving.
- 80% of all car accidents are caused by some form of distraction.
- One in every 5 drivers admits to surfing the web while driving.
- 15 people are killed every day from a crash involving a distracted driver.
- Over 3,000 people are killed annually from a car crash involving a distracted driver.
- Over 300,000 people are injured annually from a car crash involving a distracted driver.
- 660,000 people are using their cellphones while driving at any given daylight time.
Contact Us
The attorneys at Horn Law stand by waiting to help you if you have been injured in a car crash. We want to help you receive compensation for any harm that you have received due to the fault of another person. Call Horn Law today or use our online contact form and we will get back with you. Don’t delay but call today or fill out our online contact form to get the answers you need from our experienced and knowledgeable lawyers.
Sources:
http://safety.trw.com/texting-while-driving-now-leading-cause-of-us-teen-deaths/0710/
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6139a5.htm?s_cid=mm6139a5_w
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811379.pdf
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811216.pdf
http://www2.potsdam.edu/alcohol/files/Driving-while-Texting-Six-Times-More-Dangerous-than-Driving-while-Drunk.html#.VFA1afTF-f8
http://www.textinganddrivingsafety.com/texting-and-driving-stats/
