accident stories every day, so he knows the vast majority of auto
accidents [2] are caused by driver error. Because we take car
transportation for granted, many of us feel so comfortable behind the
wheel that we multi-task while driving without giving it a second
thought. Driver distraction in various forms ranks just behind driving
while impaired as a major cause of accidents [3] on American roadways.
Awareness and understanding are the first steps toward reducing these
accidents [4] and increasing traffic safety.
Many factors can contribute to auto accidents [5]. The top five causes
are:
Drinking and Driving - This one is no secret; we hear about accidents
[6] involving drunk drivers almost every day. The risk of being
involved in an accident where driver-impairment is a factor rises on
the weekend when many people are relaxing from [7] their work-week
stresses and enjoying a few cold ones with friends. All the states in
the U.S. consider a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of higher than .08 to
be above the legal limit and it doesn't take much to hit this limit.
It isn't enough to just tell people not to drink and drive: people who
have been drinking invariably think they aren't "drunk" and can drive
home without a problem. The best thing to do when planning a night out
with friends is to either designate someone in the group who will not
drink and will be responsible for driving everyone else home or hiring
a service that will get both driver and car home safely.
Cell Phone Use - Almost everyone has a cell phone nowadays; it can be
eye-opening to sit at a traffic light and watch the number of cars
that go by with a driver who has a cell phone held up to their ear! A
study from [8] Harvard University found that people who use a cell
phone while driving are four times more likely to cause an accident.
Even the use of hands-free or bluetooth technology doesn't make cell
phone use while driving much safer because concentrating on a
conversation is distracting by itself. The solution to this problem is
obvious: pull off the road to make a call or wait until you reach your
destination before using your cell phone.
Texting While Driving - This is even more distracting to a driver than
cell phone use! Studies have found that texting while driving causes a
400% increase in the time drivers spent with their eyes off the road.
For teens, the increase is 600%. In fact, for an adult, for every 6
seconds of driving time, 4.6 seconds is spent with eyes off the road
if the driver is sending or receiving a text message. Of all cell
phone-related tasks, including dialing, talking, texting, or reaching
for the phone while driving, texting is the most dangerous. Again, the
best way to avoid a texting-related car accident is to wait to send or
read a text until you are stopped somewhere or until you get to your
destination.
Driver Distraction - Many things cause drivers to be distracted:
reaching for a cell phone, changing the radio station, eating while
driving, applying makeup or shaving while driving - the list goes on
and on. If you are driving while distracted, your reaction rate is
decreased by about 20 percent which means you will take longer to
realize that you are in danger and longer to react to try to avoid an
accident. Avoid driver distraction by concentrating on the road and
your surroundings and limiting other activities while on the road.
Speeding - The faster you go, the higher the probability of a fatal
car accident. It seems that everyone is in a hurry these days, but
people who speed and cut in and out of traffic while trying to get
somewhere faster don't consider that the faster you travel, the harder
it is to stop and the deadlier the impact if you hit something. Slow
down and allow yourself extra time to get to your destination.
Remember - speed kills!
You can lower your risk of being in a car accident and can avoid
needing the services of a Fort Lauderdale Accident Injury lawyer by
staying focused while on the road, keeping distractions to a minimum,
and avoiding risky actions such as drinking before driving, speeding,
texting, or cell phone use while driving. Knowledge is power - don't
be a statistic!
For more information if you have been in a car accident, contact Fort
Lauderdale accident injury lawyer Joseph M. Maus, P.A.at
1-866-556-5529, visit his website at www.mauslawfirm.com, or email him
today.
South Florida Attorney Joseph M. Maus and Associates has been
helping victims of injuries and accidents [9] for close to 17 years.
The firm prides itself on having the resources and experience of the
largest state-wide law firms, yet providing individualized attention
to each and every client.
Links:
------
[1] http://caraccidentsus.info/tag/injury/
[2] http://caraccidentsus.info/tag/accidents/
[3] http://caraccidentsus.info/tag/accidents/
[4] http://caraccidentsus.info/tag/accidents/
[5] http://caraccidentsus.info/tag/accidents/
[6] http://caraccidentsus.info/tag/accidents/
[7] http://caraccidentsus.info/tag/from/
[8] http://caraccidentsus.info/tag/from/
[9] http://caraccidentsus.info/tag/accidents/
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét