The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration designates each April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. This effort brings some much-needed attention to an issue that is causing thousands of people each year to die on the roads in America.
While we all know that conduct behind the wheel such as eating, putting on makeup or even adjusting the radio can take a driver’s eyes off of the road for a few seconds, we also know that there is one primary distraction in America for drivers today: the ever-present cellphone.
The danger of distracted driving
Many people may not be aware of just how deadly distracted driving is in our country. According to data from the NHTSA, over 3,300 people died in America due to distracted driving in 2022 alone. That figure is even more appalling when you know that the vast majority of those incidents likely could have been avoided if drivers just paid attention to driving like they should.
Why can’t drivers seem to put the cellphone down and concentrate on the task of driving? Texting, emails, phone calls and even social media updates are apparently all the distraction some drivers need to take their eyes off of the road – which, in an instant, could lead to car accidents that cause serious injuries or even death.
While it is laudable to have public information campaigns like Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the fact is that it doesn’t seem like distracted driving is going to vanish from society any time soon. If you have been injured in a car accident that was caused by a distracted driver, you may have legal options to consider.