Distracted drivers killed 2841 people in 2018 across the country, according to data from the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA).
When you think of a distracted driver, you probably think of someone else talking or texting on their phone. Phone use is the form of distracted driving that recent campaigns have concentrated on, and it is incredibly dangerous. However, there are many more forms of distracted driving, most of which go back years, long before anyone had cellphones. Here are some of them:
- Tune to a new radio station.
- Read a road map.
- Find your route on your GPS.
- Put on makeup or check your appearance in the mirror.
- Raise your cup of coffee to your mouth.
- Rip a burger out of its wrapper and dip the fries into ketchup.
- Chat with your fellow passengers.
- Reach round to calm your enraged toddler.
- Fumble to click your seat belt into place.
- Tell your dog to sit down and pull their head inside.
- Stare at someone in the street.
- Wave to a friend in the street.
- Read the billboards along the side of the road.
It can be hard to maintain a laser-like focus when driving. The world is full of distractions and many of them, such as billboards, are purposefully designed to distract drivers. However, when you get behind the wheel of a car, you take on the responsibility that comes with it. So if you have an accident that was caused by someone who was distracted while they were driving, they need to accept their responsibility toward you.
