Distracted driving is a major cause of serious car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving claimed 3,166 lives in 2017 alone. The increase in smartphone usage and in-vehicle technology has been a major contributing factor in distracted driving. But who is responsible for this increase in distracted driving? A new study by Liberty Mutual Insurance has found that millennials are the worst offenders.
Global Driving Study
Liberty Mutual’s Global Driving Study surveyed drivers about their driving habits. The study found that while close to half of the millennial drivers agreed that phone usage while driving is a dangerous distraction, 86% of millennial drivers admit to having used the phone while driving. This number is nearly 30% higher than the average among U.S. drivers. In addition, 67% of millennials admit to having their phones visible while they drive. This makes it easier for them to check text messages and other notifications while driving. 53% of millennials surveyed admitted to sending text messages and emails behind the wheel. This is staggering when compared to the 11% of baby boomers who admit to sending emails or texts while driving.
Other Generations Not Immune
While millennials are clearly the leaders when it comes to driving distracted, other generations don’t have much room to talk. According to the study, 72% of Gen-Xers and 49% of baby boomers admit to using the phone while driving. This is still a very high percentage and shows that no one is immune from distracted driving. It is a temptation for everybody. This makes the roads extremely dangerous.
Glancing away from the road to look at a phone for even a second can result in a serious accident. Yet drivers continue to engage in risky behavior, often looking away from the road for several seconds and taking their hands off the wheel. To reduce the temptation to use your phone while driving, drivers can engage the “do not disturb” function on their phones or place their phones in another part of the car where they can’t reach or see it. Eliminating distracted driving would go a long way toward saving lives.
Contact an Accident Attorney
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you may want an experienced car accident attorney on your side. At Bonina & Bonina, P.C., we have over 50 years of experience helping car accident victims. Contact us online or call us at 1-888-MEDLAW1 to schedule your free consultation. Home and hospital visits are available. Se habla español.