TEXTING AND TALKING LEADS TO RISE IN NASHVILLE CAR ACCIDENTS
We’ve all been there. You’re driving, paying attention to the road, and all of a sudden a car nearby you cuts you off or does something that almost causes you to have a wreck. When you catch a glimpse of the person responsible, they are blissfully unaware of what just happened because, that’s right, they’re on their phone. Unfortunately, this has become an all too common problem. The proliferation of cell phones, texting, and apps, has caused distracted driving accidents to skyrocket in Nashville and the entire country over the years.
Unfortunately, one of the groups most at risk for car accidents is also the most notorious for being distracted by phones. A recent study by AAA has found distracted driving accounts for over half of all car accidents involving teen drivers. AAA conducted the study by analyzing around 1,700 dashcam videos that showed car accidents occurring. Some of the startling findings include:
- 58 percent of accidents were caused by distracted driving.
- The most common distraction was conversation with passengers, at about 15 percent
- Cell phone use was the second most common at about 12 percent.
- Teen drivers usually take their focus off of the road for over 4 seconds while looking at their phone.
- In half of the cases, the crash happened while teens were looking at their phone and were completely unaware of the need to swerve or hit the brakes.
The AAA study is not the only study done on distracted driving in recent years. In fact, the figures represented in the AAA study are even more startling than the study done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. According to the NHTSA, distraction is responsible for only 14 percent of all teen drive crashes. However, the methods used by both agencies are quite different, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration intends to look into AAA findings.
WHAT SHOULD DRIVERS DO IF THEY ARE INVOLVED IN A NASHVILLE CAR ACCIDENT?
Distracted driving is a serious issue and one that has caused pain and suffering for a lot of innocent victims. Nashville personal injury attorney Stanley A. Davis has years of experience helping victims of car accidents and their families after a distracted driving wreck—check out our testimonials and case results. If you are in need of an experienced Nashville car accident lawyer, fill out our online contact form or call us directly at (615) 866-3938.