There are many unsafe decisions possible in traffic, some of which are more common than others. Many people admit to frequently exceeding the speed limit while driving. Others acknowledge that they occasionally interact with their mobile phones while driving.
What seems like a common and mostly harmless decision can be more dangerous than people realize. Quite a few people overestimate their driving skills and ability to multitask. They also fail to consider the practical implications of handling a phone while they drive. That sense of overconfidence can lead to preventable collisions. If people truly consider the impact of checking their phones, leaving them alone while driving might be less of a challenge.
Why is checking a phone so dangerous?
Devices force drivers to divide their attention
Operating a vehicle is a safety-critical task. People generally need to remain completely focused to ensure they can respond to changing traffic conditions effectively. When the roads are clear and traffic is minimal, people sometimes assume they can bend the rules with minimal personal risk.
For example, many people think that they can read a text message and then respond to it later. They might also use dictation software to respond to a message without manually typing it. These drivers may have failed to consider how much distance they travel while looking at their phones.
At a speed of 55 miles per hour (mph), taking five seconds to look at a text message could easily result in a dangerous situation. A vehicle travels roughly the distance of a football field in that time at that speed. Even if a motorist checks their surroundings carefully before picking up their phone, vehicles in front of them could stop. Animals or humans could wander into traffic.
The risk is all but impossible to ignore. Most people make the safety-conscious decision and avoid digital distractions while driving. Unfortunately, people making unsafe decisions in traffic endanger others, not just themselves. Thankfully, collision liability rules allow those affected by the negligence and misconduct of others to request compensation after a collision.
Drivers affected by the unsafe choices of others may have the option of requesting financial compensation from the motorist at fault for a recent wreck. Holding another driver accountable for a distracted driving wreck could involve filing an insurance claim or even requesting compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.
