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Preventing Distracted Driving Accidents

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Distracted driving is unfortunately one of the most significant issues in the nation these days and is also one of the main causes of collisions. In 2019 alone, distracted driving claimed more than 3,100 lives. Further, even when these accidents aren’t fatal, that doesn’t mean they aren’t serious. Upwards of 1,000 people are injured in crashes caused by distracted driving every day. The good news is that while distracted driving is one of the main sources of danger behind the wheel, the behavior that leads to it is also one of the most preventable. In other words, there are things you can do to prevent a distraction when you are driving so that you can help keep yourself and others safe on the road.

Examples of Distracted Driving

Any action that leads a driver to take his or her attention off the road is a distraction and can technically result in a collision. Distracted driving behaviors can include:

  • Texting
  • Using social media
  • Talking on the phone
  • Talking to passengers
  • Eating or drinking
  • Changing the radio station
  • Navigating to a destination
  • Putting on makeup

Avoiding Distracted Driving Accidents – Prepare in Advance and Put Your Cell Phone Away

Fortunately, how you choose to act when behind the wheel is a crucial part of avoiding otherwise possibly life-threatening distracted driving situations. Implementing the following suggestions can help you stay focused on the road.

Prepare in Advance

Multitasking is never a good idea when you’re driving so anything that you should do anything you can do in advance to prepare for your drive. You should always take a few moments to tune into your favorite station, turn on your navigation, and make any adjustments to the driver’s seat before hitting the road. In addition to planning ahead for potential distractions yourself, you should always encourage your loved ones to take these same measures before you climb into the passenger seat beside them.

Put Your Cell Phone Away

Considering just how much we all depend on our phones, it is understandably tempting to want to respond any time you get an alert of incoming communication on your phone. However, this is one of the reasons why it is important to put your cell phone in a safe location prior to ever leaving. If you don’t trust yourself to leave your phone alone while behind the wheel, place it in your glove compartment, backseat, or another location where you can’t easily reach it while driving.

Have You Been Injured in a Distracted Driving Accident?

You can do your best to avoid a distracted driving accident by staying focused and keeping your attention where it should be. But while you may take steps to stay safe, you unfortunately have no control over the actions of other drivers. As the experienced Jacksonville car accident attorneys at Douglas & Douglas, we know how dangerous distracted driving can be and we understand how serious the injuries can be that result from accidents caused by this reckless behavior. If you suspect that you have been injured in an accident that was caused by someone else’s distracted driving, we may be able to help you hold the responsible parties accountable and recover the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation.

Resource:

nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving

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