Modern technology has been causing more deaths and major accidents on our road than most of us would want to admit. Authorities around the country have finally begun to publicize that distracted driving with cell phones have become a "lethal epidemic". Some distracted driving statistics from US Department of Transportation in 2020.
Here are some numbers:
* Deadly Crashes- 16% of all deadly US crashes and 20% of all traffic injury accidents last year, were clearly caused by distracted driving according to data from the General Estimates System (GES). Yet, it should be noted that not all police forces are trained to research this cause
* Number of dead- this translates to almost 5,800 traffic deaths and 448,000 motor vehicle crash injuries
* Cell phone- was the top contributor in 995 of the cases attributed to distracted driving related deaths and 24,000 of the accidents.
* Age- highest percentage of distracted driving accidents from those under 25 years old.
Cell phones seem to be the single largest cause of distracted driving. Cell phone usage causes 600,000 crashes, 330,000 injuries, and 3,000 deaths on an average each year according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Other common distractions include:
* Dealing with food- Eating and drinking drags your attention away from the road
* Readin a map or instructions
* Adjusting music via CD or MP3
* Internet surfing- many have been seen with computers on their lap.
* Attending to children and pets in back seat
* DVD movie screens
Here are some common driving safety measures that you can adopt to safeguard yourself:
* Only use the "hands free" device for your phone in the car- or even better to TURN IT OFF.
* While travelling with small children, secure their seatbelts properly and stock things to keep them occupied. Let them know how important it is to have your attention on the road. Pull over to the side if the back seat needs attention.
* Give your travel plans extra time. Being more relaxed helps health and concentration while driving and at your destination
* Be extra alert while changing lanes, taking a left at an intersection, during traffic jams and when pulling into or out of parking lots.
* A defensive driving class not only refreshes your driving skills but also increases your awareness of other drivers on the road while assessing your own driving behavior. An added incentive is that it gets you a discount on your car insurance. Make sure you attend one from time to time.
When sitting behind the wheel and before turning on the ignition, one should be conscious that they are taking control of a legal weapon that has the power to kill many- including oneself. This is a vehicle of approximately 2,000 pounds traveling even 30 miles an hour can destroy millions of dollars of property and cause deaths with even a moment of distraction. You are taking responsibility to not only prevent causing your own accident but also be attentive enough to avoid misbehavior from others on the road.
Here are some numbers:
* Deadly Crashes- 16% of all deadly US crashes and 20% of all traffic injury accidents last year, were clearly caused by distracted driving according to data from the General Estimates System (GES). Yet, it should be noted that not all police forces are trained to research this cause
* Number of dead- this translates to almost 5,800 traffic deaths and 448,000 motor vehicle crash injuries
* Cell phone- was the top contributor in 995 of the cases attributed to distracted driving related deaths and 24,000 of the accidents.
* Age- highest percentage of distracted driving accidents from those under 25 years old.
Cell phones seem to be the single largest cause of distracted driving. Cell phone usage causes 600,000 crashes, 330,000 injuries, and 3,000 deaths on an average each year according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Other common distractions include:
* Dealing with food- Eating and drinking drags your attention away from the road
* Readin a map or instructions
* Adjusting music via CD or MP3
* Internet surfing- many have been seen with computers on their lap.
* Attending to children and pets in back seat
* DVD movie screens
Here are some common driving safety measures that you can adopt to safeguard yourself:
* Only use the "hands free" device for your phone in the car- or even better to TURN IT OFF.
* While travelling with small children, secure their seatbelts properly and stock things to keep them occupied. Let them know how important it is to have your attention on the road. Pull over to the side if the back seat needs attention.
* Give your travel plans extra time. Being more relaxed helps health and concentration while driving and at your destination
* Be extra alert while changing lanes, taking a left at an intersection, during traffic jams and when pulling into or out of parking lots.
* A defensive driving class not only refreshes your driving skills but also increases your awareness of other drivers on the road while assessing your own driving behavior. An added incentive is that it gets you a discount on your car insurance. Make sure you attend one from time to time.
When sitting behind the wheel and before turning on the ignition, one should be conscious that they are taking control of a legal weapon that has the power to kill many- including oneself. This is a vehicle of approximately 2,000 pounds traveling even 30 miles an hour can destroy millions of dollars of property and cause deaths with even a moment of distraction. You are taking responsibility to not only prevent causing your own accident but also be attentive enough to avoid misbehavior from others on the road.
About the Author:
Want to find out more about driving safety, then visit Bonni Hobbs's site on how to choose the best guide to avoid distraction for your famil.
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