We have all been there, driving down the road watching someone talk on their cell phone. Maybe they are sending a text message, applying makeup, multi-tasking, or even reading paperwork. Doesn’t sound very safe does it? Perhaps you were the one talking on the phone. Do not feel too bad as you are not alone. Recent surveys conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center have shown that 94% of individuals surveyed had witnessed other drivers talking on their phone within the last 30 days. Nearly 66% of that same group had seen someone texting while driving.
Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood has called distracted driving a deadly epidemic. In 2009 over 5,500 people were killed and 448,000 injured in accidents related to driver distraction. Several individuals have come forward lately in an effort to tell their stories about how dangerous this growing trend actually is. These are some of the most horrific stories ever told, and each one happened in an instant. Statistically speaking, the majority of people reading this article have been affected in one way or another by someone who was not focused behind the wheel.
Of the 5,500 people killed in 2009 by accidents related to driver distraction, over 3,400 of them were teenagers. This epidemic is spreading among teenagers like wildfire, and not enough people are doing anything about it. Nearly 2 out of every 3 drivers under the age of 30 have used a handheld phone while driving in the last 30 day; similarly 1 out of every 3 drivers under the age of 30 have texted while behind the wheel.
The discussion of distracted driving will be continued in our next blog where we will provide you with ways to help fight the problem. What are some of your thoughts on focusing behind the wheel? Let us know what you think in our comments section.
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