April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Distracted Driving Awareness Month is an annual campaign held in April to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and promote safe driving habits. Distracted driving refers to any activity that diverts a driver’s attention away from the task of driving, including using a mobile phone, texting, talking on the phone, eating, drinking, adjusting the radio or navigation system, grooming, or engaging in other distracting behaviors while behind the wheel.

Distracted driving is one of the most serious issues affecting public health across the nation, including in the State of Texas. Drivers who text while driving, are engaged in cell phone conversations, answering emails, eating, daydreaming or paying attention to activities within the vehicle pose a risk to everyone else who shares the road.

The numbers of serious or fatal accidents caused by distracted driving are shockingly high, and all of these crashes are completely avoidable. Distracted Driving Awareness Month is the time to have the conversation, and to make a change in your personal driving habits for the safety of yourself, your family and others on the roadways.

Distracted Driving Statistics

The National Safety Council reports that 80 percent of American drivers think that it is safer to use a hands-free device for cell phone calls while driving. They report more than 30 studies indicate that hands-free devices are actually no safer than a hand-held cell phone for driver distraction.

Distracted driving is a significant road safety issue that poses a serious risk to drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and other road users. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving claimed 3,142 lives in the United States in 2019 alone, and an estimated 400,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers that same year.

The underlying issue is that the driver is experiencing “cognitive distraction.” The driver’s mind is focused on the subject of the call, whether occurring on a hand-held device or on a hands-free device. You can read more about the “hands-free myth” issued by the same agency. The data reveals that while a driver is engaged in a cell phone call, he or she can miss up to half of what is occurring outside of the vehicle, including traffic lights, stops signs, pedestrians or road hazards.

Have a Conversation about Distracted Driving

It is time to have the conversation with your family about the risks of distracted driving, and take advantage of Distracted Driving Awareness Month to make a pact within your family to change your driving habits. Avoiding cell phone use is a critical point, but it is not the only type of distracted driving that can lead to serious injury or death. All forms of distracted driving should be discussed, including eating, grooming, engaging with passengers, and adjusting in-vehicle systems. You can save a life – possibly your own, or that of your child or other loved one.

The statistics on distracted driving accidents in Texas prove the point about the dangers of distracted driving.

During Distracted Driving Awareness Month, various organizations, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, law enforcement agencies, and private companies, collaborate to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and promote safe driving practices. The campaign typically includes educational initiatives, public service announcements, social media campaigns, community events, and other activities aimed at increasing awareness and encouraging responsible driving behavior.

The key messages of Distracted Driving Awareness Month often emphasize the importance of keeping eyes on the road, hands on the wheel, and mind focused on driving. Campaigns may highlight the risks and consequences of distracted driving, such as the potential for accidents, injuries, and fatalities, as well as the legal and financial repercussions of distracted driving-related violations. The campaigns may also provide information and resources on how to prevent distracted driving, such as using hands-free technology, pulling over to a safe location if using a mobile device is necessary, and setting up systems to minimize distractions while driving.

Participation in Distracted Driving Awareness Month can help to promote safe driving behaviors, raise public awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, and encourage individuals to take personal responsibility for their actions while driving. By educating drivers about the risks of distracted driving and promoting safe driving habits, Distracted Driving Awareness Month aims to reduce the number of accidents and injuries caused by distracted driving and make roads safer for everyone.

Help us tackle the issue by getting involved. Share these with your friends and remind them, if you’re texting, you’re not driving.

Help With a Car Accident Injury Case in Texas

Connect with Herrman & Herrman, a car accident injury law firm located in Corpus Christi, Texas, if you or a loved one has been the victim of a distracted driver. We will help you seek justice and compensation for all damages. Call now at 361-882-4357 to schedule your free consultation today!

About Herrman & Herrman Personal Injury Lawyers

With over 100 years of combined experience among the legal team of Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., our Texas personal injury attorneys have successfully resolved over 20,000 cases. When representing injured Texas residents, we fight for justice against wrongdoing and aggressively pursue the best resolution to complex personal injury claims.

DO YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A PERSONAL INJURY LAWSUIT?

If you or a loved one was injured, please contact us for a free initial consultation and case evaluation. Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., is a locally based law firm focused on holding negligent individuals and companies accountable for their wrongdoing. We are not a personal injury mill that advertises nationwide. We provide individualized advocacy in attending to all aspects of claims that involve. Our firm has offices in the following locations: Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi South Side, Brownsville, McAllen, San Antonio, Houston, and Ft. Worth, TX.

We remain by our clients’ side, handling all aspects of their claims and attending to all legal, medical and financial needs. That dedication is combined with experience, legal knowledge, and insight from a former insurance adjuster and several former insurance defense attorneys. Whether our clients are suffering from physical pain from an accident or the emotional grief of death, we treat clients with compassion. We put their mind at ease during difficult times by answering their questions concerning the length of their claim, medical bills, financial compensation and their overall need for a lawyer.

 

 

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