5 Shocking Statistics Revealing Deadly Distraction-Induced Crashes

Distraction-induced crashes are far more common than people realize. Many people believe that sending a text or reading an email while on the road isn’t that dangerous. Lots of other people eat while driving or turn around to look in the backseat at kids and pets while they are on the road. The reality of the danger associated with these kinds of activities would shock more people who believe that these activities should be avoided but don’t believe them to be significantly dangerous.

Studies show a clear link between distracted driving and risk. Many of the most serious car accidents each year are caused by distracted driving. These statistics will help make it clear why distracted driving is so deadly.

If you have been injured in a distraction-induced crash, you need to secure skilled legal representation right away. Working with a skilled Carson City legal team can make all the difference when you are seeking compensation for your injuries.

Shocking Statistics About Distraction-Induced Crashes

1. 12% of Distracted-Induced Crashes Result in Death

Many people incorrectly believe that distraction-induced crashes are not that dangerous. Most people will rank other behaviors above texting or reading an email if they are asked which activities lead to deadly crashes. The reality is that distracted driving caused 410 deaths in 2021 alone, a number that is fairly consistent each year.

Because driving has become a daily activity for many of us, we take for granted the inherent danger associated with the activity. The rise of cell phones helped to cement the likelihood that distracted driving would cause accidents on a regular basis. Despite laws penalizing distracted driving and cell phone use while on the road, many deaths happen each year due to cell phone use while on the road.

2. High School Students Are Far More Likely to Drive Distracted

A study done in 2019 surveyed teens in the US, asking them about their driving behaviors while on the road. A shocking 39% of them admitted to texting or emailing while on the road in the last 30 days. This was despite significant outreach in schools, driver’s education, and even social media, making teens aware that driving distracted can be deadly and that cell phone tickets are very expensive.

The study went on to show that texting and emailing while on the road was not confined to kids with poor grades and that children who were considered to be more responsible in their other activities admitted to doing so at the same frequency as other children.

Students who engaged in distracted driving also admitted to being less likely to wear a seat belt, more likely to ride with someone who had been drinking alcohol, and more likely to drive after drinking alcohol.

3. Distracted Driving Exponentially Increases Your Risk of a Crash

A study that was done with the support of Virginia Tech University showed that texting while driving increased your potential risk of being involved in a distraction-induced crash by 23 times. This was not the only behavior that was linked with increased risk by the study.

Eating and drinking while driving, engaging in personal grooming, talking to passengers, reading, adjusting the radio and climate controls, and even talking on the phone hands-free were all associated with an increased risk of a crash.

Many drivers will indicate that they believe that some activities are more dangerous than others while they are driving. Studies do not show that this is the case and that all activities that you engage in while driving are distracting.

4. Driving Occupies Nearly Every Region of the Brain

Recent studies have been done to isolate which parts of the brain are activated while driving. Interestingly, these studies have shown that different activities associated with driving light up different regions of the brain. This explains why distracted driving can be so deadly.

Since the entire brain is utilized during driving, asking the brain to engage in other activities causes necessary regions of the brain to be removed from the task of driving and asked to perform a new task instead.

This matches studies that have shown clearly that humans cannot multitask, a skill that the scientific community had commonly believed to be possible for many years.

5. Being Distracted for Even 27 Seconds Can Lead to Death

Many studies are being done to find out if hands-free driving integrations actually limit or improve distraction while on the road. A recent study found that it takes at least 27 seconds for most people to return their attention to the road after picking up a call or ending it while driving.

In 27 seconds, traveling at 25 mph, your car will cover the length of three football fields. That is a shocking amount of time to be distracted away from your most important task, which is driving.

Hands-free systems do not mean that you are driving safely while using your phone. In fact, in some cases, they are even more distracting due to the delay that is necessary to execute functions within these systems. Older drivers were even more likely to be distracted for extended periods of time while using these systems than younger drivers.

Driving Distracted Can Lead to Death

It is important for drivers of all ages to realize that driving distracted can easily lead to significant injury or even death. We all tend to take for granted that driving is safe, and we are too casual about the things that we do while we are on the road to help us pass the time. Driving distracted is one of the most deadly things that you can do while you are on the road, and it should be avoided at all costs.

If you have been injured in a distraction-induced crash, you need legal support to help you seek the compensation you deserve. The experienced team at Kilpatrick Bullentini is the perfect auto accident lawyers for your case. Contact us today for a free consultation and get the legal support you need to get back on your feet after your accident.