Over the past ten years, distracted driving has changed tens of thousands of lives. Distracted drivers who are negligently operating their vehicles while using their cellphones are not only endangering themselves, but also their passengers, those in other vehicles, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and even pedestrians.
When these reckless drivers negatively affect your livelihood during a collision, our Las Vegas, Nevada car injury attorneys at Bertoldo Carter Smith & Cullen want to help you pursue the financial recovery you deserve for your injuries.
Why Are Drivers More Distracted Around the Holidays?
Distracted driving collisions increase around the holidays for many reasons, including the fact that the roadways swell with travelers who are visiting relatives and friends to celebrate the season/
As smartphones continue to progress — and become communication crutches — certain apps become mainstay references during holiday travel.
Some of the most common distractions that lead to collisions on our roadways during the holidays can include:
- Mobile Shopping Searches
With tight schedules and easy access to gift-giving solutions, mobile devices allow users to search and purchase gifts on the go.
Unfortunately, some drivers are conducting these searches from behind the wheels of their vehicles.
Other shopping-related searches can include browsing store hours in an attempt to make it to their location on time, or signing up for promotions, coupons, and deals to use in-person upon their arrival.
- Maps & Navigation Apps
Holiday celebrations include countless drivers traveling to friends and family members’ homes and venues for the first time, which requires help from navigation and map apps.
When drivers are looking down at their phones for directions or typing in new information to gain access to maps, they are putting lives in danger by taking their eyes off the road.
- Communicating With Friends & Family Members
Wishing friends and family members happy holidays with a call or text is a great way to spread cheer when they cannot be together. However, sending holiday wishes in any form while operating a vehicle can cause serious vehicle collisions, severe injuries, and even death.
Vehicle collisions can occur in seconds, and experts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s distracted driving campaign lists that the average time it takes to send a text is five seconds. When texting drivers are operating their vehicles at 55mph, that five seconds is the equivalent of traveling the length of a football field.
Calls, texts, and social media messages can wait. Placing yourself and others on the roadway in jeopardy will never be worth the damage and pain distracted driving can cause.
- Driving Under Holiday Pressure
Holidays can cause stress, anxiety, and intense pressure from the financial strain, family reunions, and even the time drivers are going to be away from work. The number of details that are swirling through everyone’s minds during the holidays can completely take their focus away from the road while traveling.
Whether drivers are in a hurry to get to their destination or are stressing about their last few days in the office, their inattention strongly increases the chance of distracted driving, which can cause serious crashes that change lives in seconds.
How Many People Are Killed in Distracted Driving Crashes Each Year?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration lists that last year alone throughout the United States, distracted driving claimed 3,166 lives.
From 2012 – 2017, distracted driving was responsible for nearly 20,000 deaths throughout the country.
It is never safe to use your smartphone while driving. And if you are having trouble paying attention to traffic patterns or signs and signals, it is time to take a break from your journey.
Pull over. Take a breath. Help keep everyone safe this holiday season.
What If I Have Been Involved in a Traffic Collision With a Distracted Driver?
Some people refuse to follow the rules of the road and simply put their phones down while traveling our Las Vegas roadways. If you have been injured in a collision with a distracted driver, contact our Las Vegas personal injury attorneys today by calling (702) 505-8115 to discuss your case with our accomplished legal group and learn about how we can help you pursue financial recovery.