Distracted Driving Statistics and Laws

Distracted Dniving Statistics IS A FACTOR IN 80%OF CRASHES! E Laws DISTRACTED DRIVING DEATHS IN THE U.S. • Nationwide, there were 33,808 car Reported - crash deaths in 2009 • Reports say 16% (5,474 deaths) involved driver distraction • Research suggests 80% (27,046 deaths) could have involved driver distraction Suspected - Drunk drivers are 7 times more likely to cause accidents Distracted drivers are 23 times more likely to cause accidents DISTRACTED DRIVING IS A COMMON AND GROWING PROBLEM Distracted driving is engaging in any non-driving activity that increases the risk of crashing like: Using GPS Talking to Passengers Talking on Phone Eating Drinking Texting Did You Know? Wireless devices (primarily cell phones) are the #1 driver distraction Clear Messages (5) Texting while driving involves the highest degree of driver distraction Teenagers text every 6 minutes when not sleeping or in school. Number of texts per person per day is expected to nearly triple from 53 (2009) to 152 (2013) What is the age group with greatest proportion of drivers distracted? ANATOMY OF DISTRACTED DRIVING Under 20 What is the age group with the greatest proportion of drivers distracted by cell phones? There are three types of distraction: • Visual: eyes off road • Manual: hands off wheel • Cognitive: mind off driving 30-39 Texting while driving involves all 3 types of distraction! A. Which is less Neither! They are equally distracting to drivers. distracting-hands- . cell phone use? No states ban all cell phone use for all drivers CELL PHONE STATE LAWS Bans hand held and texting use for all ages at all times* Bans texting while driving for all ages at all times* Studies show laws dont decrease distracted driving accidents. No laws restricting cellphone use and texting while driving *These are primary enforcement states where a police officer can stop and cite you for violation of hands free cell phone laws without needing another reason, such as speeding. CELL PHONE DISTRACTED DRIVING LAW SUITS $5.2 million Georgia injury settlement $3.3 million Maryland wrongful $1 million Oklahoma wrongful death settlement death settlement Because cell phone laws are inconsistent from state to state, lawsuits are the only recourse in many accidents. Distracted driving kills. Sources: Distraction.Gov | Virginia Tech Transportation Institute National Highway Transportation Safety Administration Insurance Institute for Highway Safety The Radicati Group | TxtResponsibly.Org | Governors Highway Safety Association AAA Public Affairs | McIntyre Law, P.C. | Injury Board Washington Post Crime Scene Blog To learn more about distracted driving cases or to get help after an accident, visit http://www.oklahoma-law.com/ or call 1-877-917-5250. Sponsored by: McIntyre Law, P.C.