Distracted driving has recently become a hot topic in the federal and state governments, and initiatives have recently begun in order to combat the dangers of distracted driving and raise public awareness of the risks.
According to the United States government, distracted driving constitutes “any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving.” All types of distractions, including manual distractions, visual distractions, and cognitive distractions, endanger not only the driver, but also passengers, other drivers, and bystanders. Distracted driving behaviors include, but are not limited to:
- Texting
- Making phone calls (including hands-free devices)
- Eating and drinking
- Manipulating vehicle instruments
- Talking with passengers
- Reading billboards
- Personal grooming
- Listening to or changing the radio
- …And more
In the last decade or so, researchers have taken on the important task of figuring out how many people are driving distracted, who these types of people are, and what kind of danger they are putting themselves and others in when engaging in such behaviors. These studies shed light not only on the hazards of distracted driving, but also on why exactly such behaviors are so dangerous.
According to NHTSA, every one in ten accidents involves distracted driving; more and more people are getting seriously injured or even killed in these motor vehicle accidents. It is important for drivers to have access to resources that can better help them stay safe on the road, we have put together a network of resources regarding distracted driving for your future safety.
- Dangers of Distracted Driving – Driving that is visually, cognitively, or physically distracting can often lead to traumatic and even fatal accidents.
- Different Types of Distracted Driving – Distracted Driving includes texting, eating, grooming, and other extremely dangerous or deadly activities. Researchers break these activities up into three categories: manual distractions, visual distractions, and cognitive distractions.
- Distracted Driving vs. DUI/DWI – Distracted driving has become a more common issue than DUI/DWIs recently and it proves to be as, if not more, dangerous as driving under the influence.
- Laws on Distracted Driving – The federal government has backed many states in making cell phone use and other distracting activities illegal while driving.
- Pending Distracted Driving Legislation – States like Ohio, Massachusetts, and New York are in the process of passing legislation that makes distracted driving a more severe offense.
- Recent Studies on Distracted Driving – A number of recent studies have shed light on the issue of distracted driving and how the problem of combating it can be addressed.
- AAA Digest of Motor Laws -Distracted driving causes a driver to miss important signs, events, and signals while driving. This leads to a lack of a proper reaction to what is happening on the road. Distracted driving has become a common problem during the past decade.
- Injury Prevention and Control: Motor Vehicle Safety (CDC) – Distracted driving causes hundreds of thousands of deaths per year and is easily preventable. The CDC believes it is a public health crisis that needs to be controlled.
- Distraction.gov Key Facts and Stats – As the official distracted driving website of the government, Distraction.gov provides statistics about the unquestionable dangers of distracted driving.
- Distracted Driving: State Laws – Distraction.gov provides the distracted driving laws in each state using an interactive map.
- The National Safety Council – Distracted driving is on the rise and the “infotainment” devices in vehicles are contributing to the problem, even though many consumers assume these devices are safe.
Access our full resource center to learn useful information regarding various legal topics and the civil and criminal justice system.
