A Closer Look At Impaired And Distracted Driving Accidents
Michael Babboni
Car Accidents
Distracted driving is dangerous and claims thousands of lives each year. Distracted driving involves any activity that takes the driver's attention away from the road and from driving.Some of the more common distractions include talking on the phone, texting, eating and drinking, talking to others in the vehicle, playing with the stereo, and trying to work the navigation system.
Driving while impaired or under the influence is just as dangerous. This includes driving while fatigued, high on drugs, or inebriated with alcohol. Impaired driving can also lead to distracted driving because it can take your eyes and focus off the road, interfere with your ability to control your vehicle, and mess with your cognitive abilities while driving.
Understanding Distraction
When a driver is not focused on the road, it can result in serious consequences and increase the risk of a collision. Distracted driving includes taking your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, and your mind off of driving. We will take a closer look at each of them below.
• Eyes Off The Road - This can be when you are trying to read a billboard you are passing, checking yourself out in the mirror, or looking at an accident or something else outside the window that takes your attention off the road.
• Hands Off The Wheel - You may end up doing this when you’re doing personal grooming, trying to read a map in the navigation system, changing radio stations, and reaching for something that may have fallen. Attending to pets or other passengers in the vehicle, eating and drinking, or texting while driving are also distractions that take your hands off the wheel.
• Mind Off Driving - Talking with other passengers in the vehicle, daydreaming, and using a hands-free device that utilizes voice-activated features can distract you from driving as well.
Dangers of Driving Impaired
Driving under the influence or even driving while tired can lead to injury and fatal car accidents. Driving under the influence can also result in hefty fines, jail time, a suspended license, and similar punishments. Every day in the United States, approximately 29 people die as the result of an alcohol-impaired vehicle collision.
This kind of dangerous driving leads to poor judgment and decision-making skills while behind the wheel, slowed reaction times, lack of coordination, decreased vision, and an increased likelihood of being involved in a car accident.
Driving while sleep-deprived means you may be cognitively impaired and can also cause the same serious consequences. It is just as dangerous as driving while under the influence.
Seeking Help
If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident due to a negligent driver who was impaired, under the influence, or distracted, you may be entitled to compensation for the injuries and damage that were sustained as a result of the accident.
Don't wait to get the help you need. Even injuries that seem minor right now can ultimately become more serious in the future.