Arizona drivers have likely heard that driving while texting is dangerous. Recent studies have added figures to this claim that give it more impact.
A driver simply needs to think about the distance they travel in their automobile when they are driving at 55 mph. When a person is traveling at that speed, their vehicle covers a length a little bit longer than a football field every five seconds. Now, drivers should think how long it takes a person to send a text: about five seconds. That means when a person is texting while driving, they potentially cover the distance equivalent to the length of a football field while distracted. If that does not highlight the danger of driving while texting, very few things will.
Researchers have seen that drivers who are distracted for any length of time are 29 times as likely to be involved in an automobile accident or in a near accident when they are in a construction zone on the highway. These distractions could come from talking to a passenger in the car, making a phone call or sending a text message.
The results of these studies could lead to recommendations being made by transportation agencies, including the Federal Highway Administration. Their goal is to implement safety measures to minimize accidents on the road. Future measures could include more education about the dangers of texting while driving. It could include more laws banning texting while behind the wheel and other policies that will encourage improved attention on the part of drivers.
A personal injury attorney may be able to help a client who is the victim an automobile accident caused by someone driving while distracted. An attorney may be able to use results compiled during accident investigations when constructing a case. They may enlist the services of accident reconstruction experts and other professionals to file a claim.
