Dealing with distracted driving

South Carolina motorists should be aware that distracted driving is just as dangerous as driving while drunk and that one-third of drivers engage in unsafe driving behavior. While April is Distracted Driving Month, it is important that people are mindful of the risks of distracted driving throughout the year.

Every year, 4,000 to 6,000 people are killed by distracted drivers, and an additional 400,000 to 600,000 individuals sustain injuries. According to a report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 88 percent of millennial drivers take part in risky behavior while operating a vehicle. The executive director of the organization states that some people in that age range believe that dangerous driving habits are acceptable. It is necessary that their understanding and behavior change so that the increasing number of fatalities on the nation’s roads can be reversed.

Statistics gathered for AT&T’s “It Can Wait” campaign regarding smartphone distracted driving demonstrates the prevalence of distracted driving. Sixty-two percent of users make sure that their smartphones are in easy reach while they are driving, while 70 percent of individuals take part in smartphone activities while behind the wheel. Twenty-seven percent of individuals who shoot videos while driving believe that they can do safely.

There are several organizations that are sharing tools, ideas and resources to increase the awareness of the dangers of distracted driving. End Distracted Driving offers resources parents can use to educate and inform themselves and their teenage drivers about the problem.

Motorists who cause car accidents because they were engaged in dangerous driving behaviors can be held legally responsible for any injuries or property damage that were sustained. A personal injury attorney may pursue financial damages on behalf of an accident victim that could include medical expenses and lost income.