Americans are using their phones in riskier ways while driving, leading to more fatal and devastating car accidents. According to a USA Today news report, a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows that although overall cell phone on the road is down, drivers were still observed manipulating their phones 57 percent more often in 2018 than in 2014.
This means more people are putting themselves at a much higher risk of dying in a car crash. “Manipulating cell phones” means they are doing things like texting, browsing the Web or using it for navigation or music.
What the Study Shows
IIHS estimates that 800 people died in 2017 car accidents due to drivers using their phones for non-calls. This study’s findings are significant because researchers have found it difficult in the past to evaluate the effects of distracted driving.
IIHS experts tracked the problem by positioning researchers on the roadside at traffic lights, roundabouts, and straight sections. Researchers recorded what drivers were doing as they passed by.
Researchers found that one in four drivers was doing something apart from focusing on the road. This study adds credence to suspicions that the increase nationwide in deadly crashes over the past few years is due in part to cell phone use while driving.
Research shows that using your phone for something apart from a call while driving increases your crash risk by about 66 percent. Car accidents in the U.S. decreased slightly in 2017, but still reflected the second-deadliest year on the road in the past 10 years.
Preventing Distracted Driving
There are several steps you can take to avoid distracted driving, particularly that caused by smartphones and other in-vehicle devices:
- Put your cell phone away in a place where you cannot see it. This way, you will not be tempted to look at it when it rings or dings. Please place it in the vehicle’s trunk or back seat, where it will be out of reach.
- Set your navigation, temperature control and music before you get on the road. Fidgeting with these devices could also result in a crash, especially if you take your hands off the wheel or eyes off the roadway.
- Get apps that send a message to those trying to reach you while driving, saying you will reply when you arrive.
If a distracted driver has injured you or a loved one, don’t hesitate to get in touch with an experienced California car accident lawyer to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.
Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2019/01/24/distracted-driving-iihs/2655556002/
