For some drivers, stories about distracted driving just do not do the trick. They understand that it was dangerous for someone else, but they think that they can do a better job. They can avoid an accident. The stories don’t make them stop because they don’t feel like those stories apply to them.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the numbers and statistics to get a better idea of the big picture. That can help make the real danger a bit clearer.
- In 2015, around 15% of accidents resulting in injury came from distraction.
- The same thing was true for about 10% of deadly crashes. In both cases, the real percentages may be higher, as authorities only count cases where distraction could be proven, and that’s not always possible.
- For instance, some authorities think that 27% of crashes happen because people are using their cellphones behind the wheel.
- Despite safety advances in auto technology, the roads have gotten more dangerous in recent years. For instance, between 2015 and 2016, the number of fatalities went up by 5.6%. A total of 37,461 people died. While not all of those accidents happened due to distraction, something spurred the increase.
- It’s especially a problem for teens, who have a crash rate three times as high as their adult peers. For teens, about 58% of accidents — fatal or otherwise — happen because of distraction.
Unfortunately, drivers will ignore these statistics and they will cause accidents. If you get injured, you need to know how to seek compensation for your costs.
