People are taught from young age that drunk driving is a serious, dangerous matter, yet texting while driving has become the most dangerous trend for many drivers. Driving while distracted leads to thousands of accidents and deaths in Tennessee and across the rest of the country each year.
The rates of distracted driving accidents
Distracted driving caused 3,142 fatalities in the U.S. in 2019, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Distracted driving contributed to 8.5% of the total number of fatal vehicular accidents that year.
The problem of increasingly distracted driving is global as more drivers have access to smartphones and in-vehicle technology. In Canada, 1,858 total road fatalities occurred in 2015. Canadian safety experts point out that drivers have access to more anti-collision safety features than they had access to a few decades ago. However, drivers may continue to drive recklessly if they don’t keep their focus on the road.
Solutions to an ongoing problem
There have been increases in the use of road signs and other campaigns that address this dangerous behavior. Even so, every year, thousands of motor vehicle accidents are directly caused by distracted driving. This behavior is negligence on the part of drivers, so victims of reckless accidents may be eligible to seek compensation from the liable driver.
Working toward safer roads
Accidents caused by distracted driving have attracted significant attention in recent decades. The growing dependence of people on smartphones means that fewer drivers can focus on their most important tasks and stay safe on the road. More individuals need to be made aware of driver distractions and the techniques needed to reduce the risks of accidents.