Unfortunately it only takes one terrible, sometimes fatal, accident for a “wake-up call”.

There are three types of distracted driving:

· Manual: taking your hands off the wheel

· Visual: taking your eyes off the road

· Cognitive: taking your mind off driving

Examples of distracted driving include:

· Talking to passengers

· Using a GPS

· Watching a video

· Eating and/or drinking

· Adjusting the radio

· Texting

There is no question that texting is the most dangerous form of distracted driving, as it requires all three distractions: manual, visual and cognitive.

Five seconds is the average time a person’s eye is off the road while texting. At 55 mph, that is enough to cover the length of a football field. It’s five life-saving seconds that can be avoided. The number of people killed in distraction-affected crashes was 3,328 in 2012 and an additional 421,000 injured.

Ten percent of drivers under age 20 involved in fatal car crashes were distracted-this age group also makes up the largest proportion of distracted drivers on the road.

With school soon starting, it is a good time to talk to teenagers about the dangers of texting while driving. This PSA is one worth watching, but also a chilling reminder on the dangers of texting while driving.

If you were involved in an accident due to a distracted driver, call The Beattie Law Firm for a free consultation.