Distraction behind the wheel can take many forms: it could be as simple as momentarily glancing out the window to read an interesting billboard, or pausing to take a bite out of a breakfast pastry. But, in recent years, one form of driver distraction has garnered more and more attention: texting and other mobile device use.
Cell phones and related technologies have been blamed for an increase in distracted driving deaths on California roads, particularly among young drivers. Of course, any form of driver distraction can be dangerous, even deadly, to others on the road, and anyone who has been injured by an inattentive motorist should explore their legal options with a San Diego car accident attorney.
Distraction Becoming More Deadly On California Roads
A decade ago, California transportation safety officials blamed only around 300 deaths a year on distracted driving. As of 2011, more than 600 deaths on California roadways are chalked up to distraction annually.
"Yelling at the kids in the backseat, dropping something, eating, putting on makeup, has been around forever," Chris Cochran, a spokesman from the California Office of Transportation safety told ABC News, "but what has really changed that is just in the last five to 10 years is the use of mobile devices." Texting can be especially dangerous, as it involves all three major forms of distraction: visual (eyes off the road), cognitive (mind off the road) and manual (hands off the wheel).
The Dangers of Inexperience
Young drivers tend to be more susceptible to distraction, due to both their inexperience and their prolific use of mobile devices. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's website Distraction.gov, drivers under age 20 are more likely to be distracted than any other age group - 16 percent of drivers under 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted.
The most dangerous time for teens is when they begin to drive on their own. According to a new study from AAA, teens are about 50 percent more likely to crash in their first month of unsupervised driving than they are after a year of solo experience, and they are almost twice as likely to crash in their first month as they are after two full years of experience. In 2008, the latest year for which data is available, there were 593 fatalities in crashes involving 15- to 20-year-old drivers in California.
Liability for Injuries
If you have been injured or if a loved one has been killed in an auto accident involving distraction, inexperience or a combination of the two, you should contact an experienced California personal injury attorney today. You may be entitled to compensation, and your attorney can help you discourage dangerous behind the wheel behaviors by holding unsafe drivers accountable.
