New data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that a startling number of drivers are using a phone or an electronic device at any given time. NHTSA reports that 660,000 motorists are distracted by the use of an electronic device. This staggering statistic was determined by reviewing data from the 2012 Distracted Driving Attitudes and Behaviors Study, the 2011 National Occupant Protection Use Survey on Driver Electronics Use and the 2011 Distraction Fatality Analysis Reporting Systems data reports.
With so many hundreds of thousands of distracted drivers on our roadways, it is no surprise that there are so many injury accidents involving distracted drivers. The NHTSA reports that over 3,300 people were killed and 387,000 were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver in the year 2011. The U.S. Transportation Secretary has even called distracted driving a "deadly epidemic."
Many states have taken action to reduce the number of distracted driving accidents by passing and enforcing strict cell phone laws. Washington, in fact, was the first state to pass a texting ban in 2007. There are 39 states, including Washington, that have texting bans for drivers now, and all but three have primary enforcement.
The Department of Transportation recommends that all drivers turn off their electronic devices and put them out of reach. It is also important for adults to lead by example and to exhibit safe driving behavior around teen drivers. If a distracted driver has hurt you or someone you love, you have the right to pursue compensation for your suffering. A knowledgeable Washington car accident attorney at Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. can help you better understand your legal rights and options in such cases.
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