Around the world, parents are collectively telling their teens, “Don’t text and drive.” However, are they practicing what they preach? More and more studies show that distracted driving is not only the new drunk driving: It’s far worse.
Statistics show 3,179 people were killed and 431,000 were injured in 2014 in car accidents involving drivers who were distracted by a host of different things. In today’s multi-tasking, instant gratification society, motorists are trying to accomplish too many things thereby taking liberties and risks while driving. The unfortunate result is increasingly dangerous roadways.
It used to be considered risky for a woman to apply lipstick while driving, but today’s antics behind the wheel make that seem petty. Take a road trip in 2017 and you’ll encounter people reading the paper, participating in a meeting via their car’s Bluetooth device while taking selfies, Instagramming the scenery, making a snapchat story, reading emails and sending a text. And if you’re actually one of the few people paying attention to the road, you know: Nothing is more frightening than seeing a heavy duty truck or RV headed your way only to realize the driver is looking not at the road but down at a device.
The facts are: When texting, drivers take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. This increases the chance of a car accident by 23%. Look at it this way: In a car traveling at 55 mph, average drivers take their eyes off the road for about the length of a football field while sending a text. Now imagine all of the things that could go wrong in that hundred yards.
More states are prohibiting texting and all handheld cell phone use and penalties are becoming increasingly stiff, the problem is pervasive. Lawmakers in New York have even introduced the idea of a “Textalyzer,” a device similar in theory to a breathalyzer that could provide metrics to determine if a driver had been using the pone while driving. When involved in a crash, drivers who refused to surrender their devices for testing would be subject to penalties similar to those refusing to take a breathalyzer.
We care about your safety encourage you to take these terrifying statistics seriously and pay attention to the road. If you’re the victim of a distracted driving accident, Grieco Collision Center is here to help. Conveniently located in Johnston, Rhode Island, Grieco Collision Center is a short ride for Massachusetts residents. We treat each customer’s needs with paramount concern and seek not only to meet but to exceed your high expectations. Allow our experienced, knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff to demonstrate our commitment to excellence. We encourage you to browse our website or please feel free to request additional information by using our online form or by calling us at 401-231-1118.