As you may be aware, April is Distracted Driver Awareness Month. You may not understand the reason why we need a month to alert us to this type of driver.

Distracted driver awareness is important because accidents involving distracted drivers are common and on the rise. They account for a large number of the car accidents in Santa Monica.

Studies have found that the simple act of talking on a cell phone while driving or looking down to dial, can increase the risk of being involved in a car accident.  One such study was conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.  Researchers found that it only took three seconds of being distracted for the chances of being involved in an auto accident to increase.  Dialing a telephone number can easily take your eyes off the road for three seconds.

Like many other drivers, you may be wondering what part you can play in staying distraction-free and focused on the road. Many drivers do not even realize that they are distracted until it is too late. A simple task such as grabbing something off the seat next to you or speaking with your child in the back seat may result in an accident. It is important to remember that it only takes a split second of distraction to cause an accident.

One of the major concerns with drivers today is their use of cellphones. As a driver, you should not allow your phone to become a distraction to you. To prevent your cellphone from causing a distraction:

  • Turn it off. There is no call or text coming in that is more important than your life, or your passengers’ lives. To avoid being tempted to answer a call or respond to a text, simply turn the phone off while you are driving.
  • Silence it. Most phones have a switch that makes it easy to put the phone on silent mode. This will make it less tempting to answer when you hear the phone.
  • Use an earpiece. If you must talk while driving, use an earpiece. An earpiece will allow you to talk while still keeping both hands on the steering wheel and your eyes on the road.

While you take the necessary precautions to prevent being a distracted driver, it does not mean other will do the same. If you have been injured in an auto accident in Santa Monica you may be entitled to compensation. To learn more about your legal options fill out the contact form on this page; we offer FREE telephone, home, and hospital consultations.

Peter Steinberg
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Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney Since 1982
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