While Georgia and many other states have taken strides in recent years to prevent motorists from using their phones behind the wheel, new research indicates that the new legislation is doing little to counter the problem. At Cathey & Strain, LLC, we have seen on many occasions the devastation distracted drivers cause, and we have helped many people who suffered injuries or lost friends or family members because of negligent drivers seek recourse in the aftermath.
According to Forbes, somewhere between 60% and 80% of U.S. motorists are using their phones behind the wheel depending on the time of day, and this holds true regardless of whether the state they are driving in has legislation banning cellphone use in vehicles. Furthermore, the number of drivers who are “addicted” to their cellphones, meaning they spend at least 28% of their time on the road on their phones, has doubled within the last year, with one out of every 12 motorists now “phone-addicted.”
The new research regarding in-vehicle cellphone use also shows that many drivers are hypocritical, meaning they are highly aware of the dangers of using their phones behind the wheel, but they continue to do so regardless. Research also shows that distracted driving, which includes using a cellphone while driving as well as a range of other risky behaviors, is becoming more dangerous than drunk driving, and it is also far more common.
While any form of distracted driving is dangerous, using a cellphone may prove particularly risky, because it involves all three types of distraction. Using a phone diverts a driver’s visual, manual and cognitive attention away from the task at hand, making that driver statistically more likely to find his or herself involved in a serious car crash. Find more about auto wrecks on our webpage.