Georgia Injury Law Blog
It’s not just using cell phones while driving, but also other types of distracting behaviors like eating and snacking at the wheel that expose motorists to the risk of car accidents. Unfortunately, when auto accidents do occur, they often involve very serious personal injuries. A new survey conducted by an insurer finds that while motorists are aware of the dangers of texting while driving or using cell phones while driving, they are still likely to engage in other distracting behaviors at the wheel.
The survey was conducted by Nationwide, and found that approximately 20% of motorists continue to use cell phones while driving. This is in spite of the fact that use of cell phones at the wheel is linked to a much higher risk of being involved in car accidents. More than half of the motorists in the survey also admitted to snacking and drinking while driving. Another 13% admitted to getting ready for work while at the wheel which includes applying makeup and shaving.
It is clear that cars are no more just automobiles for transporting people around, but have turned into extensions of people’s lives and homes. This has contributed to a range of distracting behaviors at the wheel that significantly increase a motorist’s risk of being involved in an auto accident.
It is not lack of awareness that is to blame. In the same survey, 47% of the respondents admitted that they believed increase in the use of touch screen displays and in-car information and entertainment systems that make it easy for people to text, email and call others as well as access social media and other internet services, significantly increase the risk of distractions for drivers.
A combination of complacency and overconfidence seems to be fueling motorist willingness to engage in distracting behaviors at the wheel. Many motorists also suffer from cognitive dissonance, with as many as 9 out of 10 respondents saying that they found other drivers on the road driving too fast or driving recklessly or aggressively. More than half of the respondents also admitted that they often found other motorists’ behavior stressful.
Far too many American motorists seem to be comfortable with grabbing their cell phone to check on messages or emails, believing that a single glance at a screen will not hurt them. It is precisely this kind of thinking that has contributed to distracted driving becoming a major epidemic on our roads, contributing to thousands of car accidents every year.
The Atlanta auto accident lawyers at Katz Personal Injury Lawyers are dedicated to the representation of persons who have suffered injuries in auto accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across the state of Georgia. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a car accident, talk to a lawyer at our firm and discuss your legal options for a claim for damages. You may qualify for compensation that includes medical costs, lost income and other types of damages. Talk to an attorney at our firm and discuss your case. Initial consultations are free.