Find Out Why Distracted Driving is Such a Safety Threat

Smartphones, GPS devices, MP3 players...it sounds like a brief list of some of the latest gadgets available. However, it is actually a list of some of the common devices that distract drivers.

Every year, thousands of people are injured and many killed in distracted driving accidents. The problem of driver inattentiveness has become so large, that the federal government has developed a website specifically on this topic. According to this website, Distraction.gov, in 2008, nearly 20 percent of all crashes were tied to some type of distraction.

The information only gets worse...

• In 2008, close to 6,000 people lost their lives in distracted driving crashes and over a half a million were injured.
• Drivers who use cell phones are nearly as impaired as drunk drivers. A study found that cell phones, whether handheld or hands-free, delay a driver’s reactions at the same level as someone with a BAC of .08 percent.
• Drivers who use handheld devices are four times as likely to get into injury collisions.
• Younger people make up the highest proportion of distracted-related crashes.

Based on these statistics, it appears as though distracted driving has become a national epidemic. Many states, including New Jersey, have taken steps to cut down on the number of distracted driving crashes. In New Jersey, all drivers are banned from using handheld devices. Yet, in states like Pennsylvania, drivers are permitted to use handheld devices while behind the wheel.

If you have been hurt in a car accident in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, you could be entitled to compensation. For more information, contact our office by calling 888-545-4755 or filling out our online form.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of one of our books, Seven Ways to Destroy Your Pennsylvania Personal Injury Case or Seven Ways to Destroy Your New Jersey Personal Injury Case. The insurance company doesn’t want you to read either of these books!