With the addition of so many hands-free options in vehicles, the vast majority of Americans believe that they aren't driving distracted as long as their hands are on the wheel. However, studies are proving that this may be very far from the truth and that doing anything while driving can cause you to be distracted.
Distracted driving can lead to horrible accidents and cause severe personal injury to those involved. If you or a family member have been the victim of a distracted driving accident, please contact Herbert Thornbury, Attorney at Law. Our firm is based in Chattanooga and we serve clients there and in the surrounding areas. Call us at (423) 443-3973.
Actual Distracted Driving Statistics
Many people believe that using hands-free calling, texting, GPS systems, and search means that they are giving their focus to driving. However, any of the following can constitute distracted driving:
- Talking while driving
- Changing a radio station or song
- Focusing on children in the back seat
- Eating or drinking
- Grooming
- Anything to do with your phone or GPS system
Additionally, studies show that hands-free systems are actually proving that they cause just as much of a distraction as a hand-held device. The studies, conducted by the American Automobile Association (AAA) tested 10 vehicles and three different Smartphone voice assistants in order to determine how one's brain works and reacts when trying to use them. While driving, participants were given tasks that required only using voice-activated systems within 2015 model vehicles. The participants were monitored using cameras and other monitoring software to monitor brain activity and determine how distracted they actually were and how long the distraction lasted.
After the tests, all 10 vehicles' and 3 Smartphones' hands-free systems proved that a person was moderately or severely distracted during all of the hands-free tasks. The AAA's scale of distraction ranges from mild distraction (1) to very high distraction (5). None of the tests were with the AAA's "safe" amount of distraction: 1. In fact, 10 of the 13 systems had participants experiencing distraction levels above 3.
Even more shocking is that distraction levels continued after the activity was completed; in some cases up to 27 seconds after a participant finished their task they were still distracted enough to miss a stop sign or pedestrian in the road.
Seek Help After a Distracted Driving Accident
If you've been injured in a car accident and believe it was because the opposing driver was distracted, you may have grounds for legal action. Please contact our attorney, Herbert Thornbury, today. He will evaluate your case for free and help you seek financial compensation for your suffering, property damage, and injuries. Please fill out the form on this page or call us at (423) 443-3973.
