You were on the highway when you noticed the vehicle in front of you weaving in and out of its lane. You slowed down to give the driver more space and put in a call to the police with the driver’s license plate number. It was too little too late, though, and moments later, you ended up in a collision because of the driver’s behaviors.
In 2015, 3,477 people died because of distracted drivers. Distracted drivers could be anyone, from a teen looking down at a text to an older person who decided to eat behind the wheel. Most people deal with distractions when they’re driving, so it’s not surprising that so many people die in crashes related to distractions.
The reality is that if people focused on the roads, they could help prevent serious crashes from occurring in the first place. Waiting to eat, putting down a phone or letting a passenger change the radio station could help drivers focus on the road instead of other activities.
With 391,000 people injured in crashes attributed to distracted driving, it’s easy to see that someone you know could have been a victim of a distracted driver. Teens are the group that is more likely to be distracted at the time of an accident, but anyone can be distracted behind the wheel.
Combined with speeding, drinking alcohol and other behaviors, drivers can be extremely dangerous to themselves and others. It’s important for victims to speak out, so they can hold those who are negligent responsible for their actions. Our website has more information on distracted driving and what you should do if you or someone you love has been hurt in a crash.
