Memes and other social media a source of driver distraction

Drivers in South Carolina, as anywhere else in the U.S., can be distracted by a number of things, and phones are at the top of the list. Wakefield Research conducted an online study to which nearly 2,000 U.S. drivers responded, and what it reveals about distracted driving trends may be of interest. The results have been shared by Root Insurance, an insurer that gives discounts to drivers who avoid phone use.

About half of the respondents said that distracted driving is a top concern for them when on the road. Ninety-nine percent recognized phone use as among the top three distractions that drivers engage in. Yet respondents admitted to using their phones an average of 13 minutes per day behind the wheel, and almost two in five said they never bother to put down their phones when law enforcement is around.

Among phone-related distractions, group chats were the most frequently cited (52 percent). These include text and email chains with multiple people. Thirty-three percent said they are often distracted by social media. Even looking at memes was mentioned as a source of distraction. Eighteen percent mentioned the streaming of videos.

At the same time, 89 percent of respondents said they would give a bad rating to ride-hailing drivers who text behind the wheel. Ninety percent considered their driving superior to that of ride-hailing employees.

More car accidents occur as a result of distracted driving than current statistics show since drivers can easily lie about their activities prior to a crash. Those who are injured by a driver on a phone, though, may not have such a hard time proving the other’s negligence. If victims wish to file an injury claim, they may hire a lawyer, who in turn might hire investigators for the gathering of proof.