Distracted driving has become a major issue in the United States, and it is leading to a significant increase in auto accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving is any activity that takes a driver’s attention away from the task of driving. This can include talking on a cell phone, texting, eating, drinking, or even changing the radio station.
The NHTSA has found that distracted driving is responsible for more than 3,000 deaths and 400,000 injuries each year. In addition to the human cost, distracted driving is also costing the country billions of dollars in medical costs, lost work productivity, and property damage.
The most common form of distracted driving is using a cell phone while driving. Research has found that talking on a cell phone while driving is just as dangerous as driving with a blood alcohol content of .08%. This is because cell phone use requires the driver to take his or her focus off the road and split it between the conversation and the task of driving.
Texting while driving is even more dangerous than talking on a cell phone. Texting requires the driver to take his or her eyes off the road and split their attention between the conversation and the task of driving. This increases the risk of an accident by 23 times.
In order to reduce distracted driving, states have started to pass laws banning the use of cell phones while driving. Some states have even passed laws banning the use of all handheld devices while driving.
In addition to laws, there are several steps that drivers can take to reduce the risk of distracted driving. Drivers should always put their cell phones out of reach while driving. They should also avoid eating or drinking while driving, and they should focus on the task of driving at all times.
Distracted driving is a major issue in the United States and it is leading to an increase in auto accidents. Drivers should take steps to reduce the risk of distracted driving, and states should continue to pass laws that ban the use of cell phones and other handheld devices while driving. Doing so will help to reduce the number of auto accidents and save lives.
