Although the dangers posed by distracted driving has attracted an enormous amount of attention from driving safety experts, lawmakers and the media, the vast majority of this focus has been limited to cell phone used by motorists. While there can be no dispute that talking or texting on a cell phone constitutes a dangerous driving practice, the issue of distracted driving includes many traditional distractions that also cause traffic related fatalities and catastrophic injuries. The 2014 edition of the National Safety Council’s Injury Facts® reports that cell phones account for more than a quarter of all auto collisions in the United States. The NSC estimates that 21 percent of these crashes involve talking on a cell phone while text messaging accounts for another 5 percent of collisions. While these numbers are troubling, the tunnel vision type focus on cell phones tends to obscure the danger posed by other causes of driver inattention.
Distracted driving has been one of the leading causes of crash-related fatalities and injuries for decades. Whether a driver is engaged in eating, grooming, reading or other activities that diverts a motorist’s mind, hands and/or eyes from the road, these less talked about distractions also put others who share the roadways at-risk. Some of the traditional forms of distracted driving that cause auto accidents in Mississippi include:
- Brushing or combing ones hair
- Eating and drinking
- Shaving
- Applying makeup
- Reading books, newspapers or E-readers
- Adjusting the car sound system
- Reaching for an object
- Disciplining children
Most drivers have engaged in some of these activities while driving, but these forms of multi-tasking behind the wheel can also cause distractions that lead to serious motor vehicle accidents. There are three potential levels of distraction:
- Manual Distractions: These involve removing one or both hands from the steering wheel, such as to reach for an object in the glove compartment.
- Visual Distractions: This form of distraction involves a driver diverting his or her eyes from the roadway.
- Mental Distractions: These distractions can range from daydreaming to trying to navigate the menus on a tablet computer while searching the internet.
While all of these level of distraction can lead to a traffic accident, those distractions that combine all three levels of distraction are particularly dangerous. The multi-level distraction of cell phones and the fact that most drivers now carry one explain the focus on cell phones as distractions. However, most of the old fashion distractions listed above also can affect a driver’s ability to safely operate a vehicle through all three levels of distraction. However, these other forms of distraction are more difficult to prove because there is no evidence of such activity like cell phone texting logs, call history or cellular phone records. The more difficult task of proving that a driver was engaged in these types of activities might mean they pose an even more insidious risk.
Holding Distracted Drivers Accountable for Injuries and Fatalities
If you are involved in a collision caused by a distracted driver, you may have a right to financial compensation for your injuries. Mississippi personal injury attorney William S. Kellum III represents clients in Jackson, Brandon, Clinton, Canton, Brookhaven, Greenwood, Hattiesburg, Indianola, Madison, Meridian, Natchez, Pearl, Ridgeland, Vicksburg, Yazoo and other surrounding cities and areas. We offer a free consultation so that we evaluate your situation and answer your questions so call us today at (601) 969-2709 or send us an email to schedule your initial consultation.
