Dangers of Texting and Driving in Long Island

Many traffic accidents in Long Island and elsewhere are attributed to texting and driving, or distracted driving. National statistics prove how dangerous it is for someone to text on their cellphone while driving:

• According to the CDC, 1000 people are injured each day in the U.S. due to distracted drivers. Nearly 10 are killed every day by being in an accident caused by someone who was texting and driving.
• The NHTSA reports nearly 3500 people in 2015 were killed in vehicle accidents involving a distracted driver
• The NHTSA also states that during the day, 481,000 drivers are using their cell phones while driving
• Young adults between 16 and 24 years old use of cell phones while driving at a higher rate than older drivers, according to a National Occupant Protection Use Survey presented by the NHTSA

The website Digital Responsibility.org talks about a study of drivers revealing that texting while behind the wheel is one of the riskiest kind of distracted driving. In fact, the study showed that if you text while driving, you are 23 times likelier to get into a “safety-critical event”. Another startling statistic–drivers traveling 55 miles per hour who look at their cell phones to text or read a text will have traveled 100 yards (the length of a football field) without looking at the road.

New Drivers and the Dangers of Distracted Driving in Long Island

If you have a teen who will soon have a driver’s license, make sure you reiterate the fact that texting while driving is extremely dangerous and could result in a new driver losing his or her license. Explain how taking your eyes off the road even for a few seconds could cause someone to hit the back of a car or swerve into another lane and crash into cars. Tell teenagers that if they must text someone, they should pull into a parking lot.

When You Need a Long Island Accident Attorney

Distracted driving accidents can lead to innocent drivers and passengers suffering serious injuries requiring hospitalization and possibly long-term treatment. If you have been injured by someone who was texting and driving, call the injury attorneys at William Mattar today to make a consultation appointment with an attorney who can handle your case from start to finish. Compensation may be available to help pay for your damages.