Common sense dictates that looking down at a phone to read or write a message while behind the wheel isn’t safe to do, but surprisingly little research has been done on just how risky it is to text or talk on the phone while driving. A newly-released study examines just how much of a risk is posed by drivers interacting with their phones while driving, quantifying the increase in crash risk. Read on to learn more about the study, and contact a knowledgeable Nevada personal injury attorney if you’ve been injured in a car crash with a distracted driver.
Researchers Studied Video Footage of Drivers to Identify Crash Risk
The recent study was conducted by researchers at the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The researchers calculated increased crash risks caused by phone use by using video footage from inside participating drivers’ cars. Over 3,000 drivers had cameras installed in their cars, and researchers examined the types of phone use drivers engaged in for the six seconds before a crash and compared it to the types of phone use they engaged in at other moments through their drive.
Drivers up to Eight Times More Likely to Crash When Using Their Phones Behind the Wheel
The researchers found that drivers who texted, emailed, or browsed on their phone were at a risk of crashing that was eight times higher than when they focused on the road in front of them. Drivers who held phone conversations had an up-to-four times higher crash risk. The researchers found no significant difference between using their phone hands-free or handheld during the phone call.
AAA spokesperson Skyler McKinley noted, “Deep down, I think everybody appreciates just how dangerous it can be to text and drive or talk and drive. That so many drivers regularly engage in these deadly behaviors is evidence of a ‘It could never happen to me’ mindset. Today’s report should make one thing clear: Motorists are putting themselves, other road users, pedestrians, and property at significant risk every time they pick up the phone while driving.”
If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a Nevada crash with a distracted driver, contact the knowledgeable and seasoned Las Vegas personal injury lawyers at Bertoldo Carter Smith & Cullen for a free consultation at (702) 505-8115.