Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Distracted Drivers and Fatal Car Accidents
Distracted driving car accidents have become a major problem in the United States over the last couple of decades.
With more and more drivers talking on cell phones, eating, texting and even taking pictures with their cell phones while driving, there is no wonder why there has been a rise in distracted driving related accidents all across the nation and Massachusetts.
What Constitutes Distracted Driving?
According to its official definition, distracted driving is an activity in which the driver’s "attention is given to a non-driving-related activity, typically to the detriment of driving performance."
According to the 2006 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 80% of traffic accidents and 65% of near accidents occur within 3 seconds of some form of driver distraction.
Imagine how little it takes for many drivers to become easily distracted: 3 seconds.
NHTSA Study Findings Related to Distracted Driving
According to a recent study conducted by the NHTSA and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, 1 in 3 drivers studied were involved in a motor vehicle accident and on average each driver had 3 near collisions.
Researchers monitored the behavior of 241 drivers in 100 vehicles for more than a year and recorded 82 traffic collisions and 761 near crashes.
The study found that reaching for a moving object significantly increased the risk of an automobile accident or near accident by 9 times.
Dangers of Distracted Driving
Why has driver distraction become a main focus recently? With technology advancing coupled with a busy society who frequently multi-tasks, accidents have become more common.
Drivers who read, applied makeup or dialed on their cell phones tripled their risk of causing an accident, according to the study.
Drivers talking on cell phones were a top cause of crashes. Many states have elected to ban the use of cell phones while driving, while other states allow the local governments to place restrictions. In Massachusetts, there is a ban on texting while driving.
Driver Fatigue as Distracted Driving
Drowsy drivers are also a major cause of motor vehicle accidents. Drowsiness contributed to more than 22% of the traffic crashes and near-crashes that were recorded among the drivers researched.
One of the main lessons that this study provides is the importance of paying attention while driving. If only 3 seconds greatly increases the odds of an auto accident, it is vital that a driver always keeps his or her eyes on the road. It is hard to control what other drivers do, but if each driver can make sure to stay focused and do their best to avoid distractions, the number of serious car crashes should decrease.
If you’ve been seriously injured in a Massachusetts traffic accident, contact the Boston injury attorneys at (888) 208-1695 or (617) 248-8690 for advice on your case.
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