You may be a safe and cautious driver. That doesn’t mean all other drivers who share Kentucky roadways with you are the same. In fact, some are outright menaces to all who share their travel space. Distracted driving is one of the biggest causes of personal injury and fatal motor vehicle collisions. Have you ever been distracted at the wheel? If you answered, “Yes,” you are definitely not the only one. Distraction occurs much easier than many people realize.
For instance, if your child wants to show you something from the back seat while you’re driving and you turn around to look at it, you are distracted for however long it takes until you refocus your eyes and attention back on the road. Prevention is the best means for safety when it comes to distracted driving dangers. It’s also a good idea to know where to seek support if your safe driving plan is interrupted by a distracted driver who causes a collision, resulting in your injury.
Avoid distracted driving with these practical tips
Every driver is responsible for acting in adherence to traffic regulations to maintain high levels of safety for all travelers nearby. If you’re a parent of teenagers, you’ll likely teach someone to drive at some point. The following information can help lower your child’s risk for injury, and may help you avoid a collision as well:
- Making informed decisions depends on obtaining necessary knowledge before getting behind the wheel to drive. Especially if you’re teaching someone else to drive, it’s critical that you inform him or her of the risks involved with multitasking or taking his or her eyes off the road while driving.
- There is simply no way to safely text or use a cellphone and drive at the same time. If you practice safety by pulling off the road before you engage in such activities, you immediately decrease your risk for collision.
- Speaking out against distracted driving can also help improve safety on Kentucky roadways. If you’re with a group of friends and someone reaches for a cellphone to send or receive a text while driving, you may save one or more lives by asking your friend to wait until you have come to a safe stop off the road before using the device.
- State laws vary regarding use of hand-held electronic devices while driving. However, even if you are driving in a state with no laws in place against texting or cellphone use while driving, you can be proactive to avoid collision by waiting until you’re off the road.
You may be surprised to learn that approximately eight people suffer fatal injuries in distracted driving accidents throughout the nation every day. That’s in addition to more than 1,100 who suffer injuries that they survive. Current estimates state that more than 650,000 people are using hand-held electronic devices while driving at any given moment in the United States.
Where to seek support if a distracted driver causes you injury
From medical bills, car repairs, time off work and other expenses, distracted driving collisions often devastate people’s lives. In worst cases, distracted drivers cause irreparable damage when innocent lives are lost because of their negligence behind the wheel.
Many Kentucky residents turn to experienced personal injury attorneys for support following distracted driving accidents. Licensed counselors, physical therapists and community faith leaders also help those suffering from the emotional and physical effects of distracted driving collisions.