There appears to be no stopping the flood of distracted driving accidents in Hawaii. As long as drivers insist on talking on their phones, texting, snacking, and engaging in other distractions behind the wheel, they are a danger to themselves and others.
The Honolulu car accident lawyers at Recovery Law Center have seen the tragic outcome of distracted driving crashes on Oahu. Contact us today if an inattentive driver harmed you or someone you love. The initial consultation is free.
Tips to Stay Attentive While Driving
The first step towards accident prevention is learning about the dangers of distracted driving and how to keep yourself safe. Here are some common-sense things you can do to minimize distractions while driving:
- Never talk on the phone while driving. Pull over to call in an emergency.
- Avoid texting while driving.
- Don’t eat or drink behind the wheel.
- Create a playlist before leaving so you are not distracted by the music controls.
- Keep your music and other sounds in the car to a minimum so you can hear what is happening around you.
- Download apps to your phone to prevent you from making calls while driving.
- Keep pets secured and out of the front area of your car.
- Avoid personal grooming, such as applying makeup, while you drive.
Types of Distractions While Driving
What distractions can increase your driving risk? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are three types of driving distractions:
- Visual distractions – A visual distraction causes you to take your eyes off the road. If you cannot see what is happening around your car, you cannot react to sudden changes in time to avoid a collision. Examples of visual distractions include texting while driving, rubbernecking, talking to passengers, and adjusting radio controls.
- Manual distractions – A manual distraction causes you to take one or both hands off the wheel. Without both hands on the wheel, your vehicle becomes more difficult to control. Examples of manual distractions include eating or drinking, adjusting climate controls, using a navigation device, and texting while driving.
- Cognitive distractions – A cognitive distraction is anything that takes your concentration off driving. You need to focus on the road at all times. Daydreaming, talking with passengers, and attending to children can take your mind off the task of driving.
Distracted Driving Statistics
Distracted driving statistics show just how serious the problem is in the United States:
- According to the CDC, more than 3,100 people died and another 424,000 people were hurt in distracted driving accidents nationwide in one recent year.
The CDC also reported that about one in five people killed in distracted driving accidents nationwide that year were people other than drivers, like pedestrians and bicyclists. - According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a car moving at 55 miles per hour will travel the length of a football field in the typical amount of time it takes to read a text message.
Contact a Hawaii Distracted Driving Accident Attorney Today
You deserve compensation if you suffered serious injuries in a Honolulu distracted driving accident. Let Recovery Law Center help you demand it. There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain by scheduling a free consultation. Call or contact us today.
