In today’s 24/7 society we often feel confident in our ability to multitask to meet all our daily goals. However, there is one time when multitasking should be avoided altogether — when driving. Motorists in Mississippi can be easily distracted if they try to do two activities at once while driving, which could lead to a serious distracted driving accident that injures or kills another person.
The statistics on distracted driving in the U.S.
The statistics on distracted driving in the U.S. are grim. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each day 8 people in the U.S. lose their lives in a collision involving a distracted driver. To put it another way, approximately 3,000 individuals are killed in a distracted driving accident every year. In 2018 alone more than 2,800 individuals lost their lives and approximately 400,000 more were injured in a distracted driving accident. One in five of those killed in a distracted driving accidents were pedestrians, bicyclists or were otherwise not in a vehicle at the time of the crash.
Texting and driving is especially dangerous
Motorists can be distracted if they try to drive while eating, chatting with passengers, grooming or adjusting their mirrors, among other activities. However, one of the most dangerous distractions is texting and driving. This is because texting involves all three major types of distractions. When you are reading a text message or sending one your eyes are on your cellphone not the road — a visual distraction. When you are holding your cellphone to read or reply to a text your hands are on your phone not the steering wheel — a manual distraction. Finally, when you are reading a text message and thinking of how to reply your mind is on the text message not the task of driving not the task of driving — a cognitive distraction. Given this, it is easy to see why texting and driving is so dangerous.
Learn more about car crashes in Mississippi
A distracted driving accident can be absolutely devastating when it leads to serious injuries or fatalities. Those injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver will want to learn more about their legal rights and options for compensation. Our firm’s website on car accidents in Mississippi may be a useful resource for those who want to learn more about this topic.