Certain types of auto accidents in Santa Monica are distinguished by being both severe and common. For instance, vehicle crashes caused by distracted driving account for a huge majority of accidents on the road today. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found in 2010 that 80 percent of car accidents have some involvement of driver inattention as a factor.
The dangers caused by distracted drivers have caught the attention of government leaders and everyday citizens. In fact, this has led to the month of April being named as Distracted Driver Awareness Month. Hopefully, this awareness month will help to educate and inform the public about the dangers of being distracted on the road.
It is important that a driver understands how he can prevent himself from becoming a distracted driver. Three ways a driver can do this are:
- Don’t use a phone while driving. The use of a handheld device while driving in California is illegal. It is illegal because it has proven to be a dangerous practice. Studies have shown that texting or talking on the phone while driving can be as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol.
- Control passengers. While driving a car full of kids, teens, or adults, a conversation, rowdiness, or crying can become distracting. It is important that not only the driver but also the passengers understand the importance of remaining calm during the trip in order to avoid distracting the driver.
- Make adjustments before leaving. One common cause of distracted driver accidents is when a driver takes her eyes off the road in order to adjust the GPS, stereo, mirrors, or seats. To prevent a distracted driver accident, a driver can make these adjustments before she sets off.
If you would like more information about auto accidents or distracted drivers, feel free to browse through our large library of auto accident articles. To speak with an experienced attorney simply fill out the contact form found on this page.
