The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recently released its Safety Culture report on distracted and risk-prone drivers. According to the report, distracted driving remains both a major concern and a prevalent behavior among motorists.
AAA Foundation is a publicly supported research and education organization that is dedicated to preventing traffic crashes. In late 2012, the foundation conducted a survey of approximately 4,000 motorists. The results of that survey are quite alarming.
According to the AAA report, distracted driving is a large concern of the public, with 88.5 percent of drivers believing that cellphone use is a very serious threat to their personal safety. Additionally, the problem is perceived to be getting worse, with 90.3 percent of respondents believing that distracted driving is a much bigger problem today compared with three years ago.
However, despite this increased awareness of the dangers of distracted driving, most respondents admitted to engaging in the same dangerous behaviors for which they criticized other motorists. For example, despite widespread disapproval of texting behind the wheel, 26.6 percent of drivers admitted to typing or sending a text recently.
With so many drivers taking a “Do-as-I-say, not-as-I-do” approach to distracted driving, the problem is likely to get worse. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA states that every year, over 3,000 individuals are killed, and nearly half a million are injured in crashes that are distraction-related.
The definition of distracted driving according to the U.S. government website for distracted driving, www.distraction.gov, is any form of activity that could divert or distract a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. It is therefore important for all drivers to remember that texting while behind the wheel is not the only dangerous or distractive activity. Other common distractions include:
- Talking to passengers
- Drinking or eating
- Reading, including maps
- Using a navigation system
- Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player
- Watching a video
- Grooming
We urge all Florida drivers to pay attention behind the wheel. If a distracted driver in Florida has injured you or someone you love, you may need an experienced Florida accident attorney. Call us today at (800) 299-8878 or fill out our convenient online contact form for a free consultation.
