While everyone "understands" that one shouldn't text and drive, many people are rather comfortable with the practice. Some even feel that the state legislature went too far when it made the act illegal. However, recent studies have emphasized the importance of these laws, and we decided to spend some time exploring this issue via one of our regular blog posts.
To put it simply, texting and driving are dangerous. It introduces additional risks and increases the chances of car accidents, many which can lead to catastrophic personal injuries. Despite that, people are generally very confident in their ability to text and drive. But as recent scientific endeavors have shown, people are much worse at multitasking than they believe themselves to be.
Multitasking is a Myth
Studies have shown that efficient multitasking is a myth. Our brains are not designed to handle multiple complex tasks, and what ends up happening is that attention is divided between separate tasks as the brain rapidly switches back and forth between activities. The proof is certainly in the pudding, as researches have demonstrated that multitasking while driving impairs reaction times by up to a whopping 40%.
This effect is clearly observable in people who use their phone while they walk. They slow down to avoid running into obstacles and lose complete awareness of their surroundings. Now imagine being this distracted while controlling a car at high speeds!
The Risks behind Texting and Driving
Another study demonstrated that drivers who text and drive take their eyes off the road anywhere from 3-5 seconds each time they engage in multitasking activities such as texting and driving. This is enough to travel an entire football field's worth of road when traveling at 55 mph or more! Raw accident statistics paint a grim picture as well. In 2015 alone, there were over 3,400 deaths and 390,000 injuries that were linked to distracted driving. Needless to say, texting and driving poses a serious risk to drivers, passengers, and other fellow travelers.
Talk to a California Personal Injury Attorney
The state of California, like other states, acknowledged the risks of texting and driving and moved quickly to criminalize the practice. Unfortunately, this is one of those laws that is commonly broken and tragic accidents do occur.
Were you or a loved one injured by a distracted driver who was using his/her phone while operating a vehicle? If so, know that the skilled personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Dean Petrulakis can help you recover the compensation that you deserve. Do not hesitate to call us at your earliest convenience to learn more about how we can help.