Distracted driving is the problem that just doesn’t seem to go away. Even with the near-nationwide bans on texting while driving and Minnesota’s recent hands-free laws, drivers still find themselves distracted while behind the wheel. Unfortunately, while these distractions might seem innocuous, anything that takes a driver’s focus from the safe operation of a vehicle can result in deadly collisions.

The Distracted Driving Report, published in 2019, looked at data pooled from a national sample of 844,000 drivers. The report noted several interesting trends, including:

  • Distracted drivers are 21 times more likely to speed and 12 times more likely to rapidly accelerate
  • Distracted drivers are seven times more likely to hard brake to avoid a collision
  • Drivers are more than twice as likely to use their cell phone while driving during the evening commute than the morning commute
  • Teens and parents are almost equal when it comes to distracted driving phone use

While the use of cell phones is generally considered the most common type of driving distraction, there are countless other distractions, including:

  • Eating and drinking
  • Personal grooming
  • Manipulating a GPS navigation system
  • Manipulating a sound system
  • Conversations with other vehicle occupants
  • Reading

Distractions can be either manual, visual or cognitive in nature and they always result in a loss of focus. As noted in the report, drivers often speed and are forced to hard-brake to avoid a collision. With attention placed squarely on the task at hand, drivers can safely commute to or from work and avoid serious injuries.

If you were injured or you lost a loved one in a fatal vehicle collision, it is wise to contact an experienced motor vehicle accident attorney for guidance.