California drivers may be surprised to learn the impact that driving while distracted is having on accident rates. Recently, an insurance company that focuses on providing discount insurance for customers who do not use their phone while driving highlighted the results of a distracted driver study. According to the study, upward of 47% of drivers believe that distracted driving is one of the top concerns they have while on the road and view it as something that can impact road safety.
The challenge is that for most people, using their mobile phone while they are driving is second nature. The distractions that drivers have are constantly increasing. This increases the need for insurance companies and others to find ways to focus drivers’ attention on the road as opposed to their mobile devices.
Studies have shown that it is not a lack of knowledge that leads drivers to use their phone while behind the wheel. Most know that it is wrong, but they still do it. In the same study, drivers admitted that they spend 13 minutes a day, or approximately 91 minutes each week, using their phone or another electronic device while driving. Many drivers have gotten so brazen that they will even check their mobile device in the presence of law enforcement.
According to the study, 99% of drivers believe that their phone is one of the top three distractions they have while they drive. Some of the distractions that a phone produces include social media, video streaming, group chats or chain emails.
If a person was injured as a result of someone else driving while distracted, they may want to speak to a personal injury attorney. A personal injury attorney may help their clients by considering evidence gathered by law enforcement officials, camera footage and reports from accident reconstructionists. They might use this information to help their clients negotiate with the responsible party or, if necessary, represent their client during a civil trial.