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Distracted Driving 411

What is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving is any action that takes a driver’s attention away from driving. This includes talking on your phone, texting, eating, chatting with passengers in your car and/or adjusting your radio. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that “…any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing.”

Types of Distractions

EndDD.org categorizes distractions into three main types: manual, visual and cognitive. Texting involves all three types.

Three types of distracted driving

Image courtesy of EndDD.org

  • Manual distractions are those where you move your hands off the wheel.
  • Visual distractions are those where you take your eyes off the road.
  • A cognitive distraction is when you’re mind is not focused on driving.

Cell Phone Use

  • Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for five seconds. At 55 mph, that’s the same as driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.
  • Motorists are as impaired when they drive and talk on a cell phone as they are when they drive intoxicated.
  • Cell phone users are 5.36 times more likely to get into an accident than undistracted drivers.
  • Text messaging increases the risk of a crash or near-crash by 23 times.

Consequences

distracted driving

Distracted driving has serious consequences.

  • In 2018, 2,841 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. Among those killed:
    • 1,730 drivers
    • 605 passengers
    • 400 pedestrians
    • 77 bicyclists

Our Ohio car accident attorneys are dedicated to providing victims with superior legal care. Call 1-800-ELK-OHIO or contact us here.