California Auto Accident Attorneys

Inglewood,CA Auto Accident Lawyer Peter Steinberg
Frequently Asked Questions About Distracted Driving Q: What exactly is distracted driving? A: Distracted driving is driving while your mind, eyes or hands are doing something else. Nearly any activity that does this could be considered distracted driving. But some of the most common distractions reported by safety officials include cell phones and other devices, eating, personal grooming, rubbernecking, reaching for something and interacting with passengers. All of these raise the risk of a crash by taking the driverâs attention away from the road. Q: Why is distracted driving becoming an issue? A: Distracted driving has gained attention recently because more and more studies are showing that itâs a serious threat. For example, a 2006 study showed that the risk of a crash doubles when drivers take their eyes off the road for longer than one second. Safety experts have always believed that most accidents are caused by human error. But now, distractions have increased because we are able to take more and more technology into our cars, and because many people are trying to squeeze more into their days. Q: Is it legal to drive while using a cell phone? A: It depends on where you live, but more and more, the answer is no. No state has banned cell phone use entirely, but a handful of states have banned use of hand-held phones. Far more states have outlawed texting while driving, and many others are considering it. Congress is considering a law that would require states to pass a texting ban before they are eligible for federal highway funding. And the Secretary of Transportation has made distracted driving a central safety issue. Q: Is it safer to use a hands-free cell phone? A: Research suggests that it is not. While hands-free devices do help drivers keep their eyes on the road, talking on the phone can still cause a mental distraction. A 2001 University of Utah study found that drivers using a cell phone missed twice as many traffic lights as drivers without a phone. That was true regardless of whether they were using a hands-free device. The study concluded that phone conversations distract drivers in ways that passive listening does not. Q: Do the police take distracted driving seriously? A: More and more, yes. Laws in many states allow police officers to pull over drivers they see violating a ban on texting or hand-held phone use. Other states allow law enforcement to make a note of whether a driver was using the phone at the time of an accident. Most likely, police will assign the blame for a crash on a driver distracted by a phone or other device. And all states have laws against reckless driving, which can be used in situations where distractions pose a clear risk.