What are the Dangers of Texting and Driving?

According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, 21 percent of auto accidents in the state of North Carolina in 2015 involved a driver who was distracted.  Motorists could be distracted by many different things that take their focus off the road, from talking to a passenger to having a snack while driving.

One of the most dangerous types of distraction, however, is texting. A driver who reads or sends a text while behind the wheel must take his focus off driving for a sustained period of time. The typical texting driver travels as much as an entire football field in length while focused on texting instead of on the road.

Despite the risks associated with texting, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reports that around 2.2 percent of drivers on the roads are visibly texting at any given time. The substantial number of drivers texting while driving can have devastating consequences.

Because of the dangers of texting, the state of North Carolina has rules restricting drivers from texting behind the wheel. North Carolina code section § 20-137.4A establishes the relevant laws that restrict texting and emailing for drivers.

Unfortunately, even with laws in place, many motorists continue to send or read texts when they should be focused on the road. If these motorists cause a collision to occur, they should be held accountable by any victims who are hurt due to the accident. A Charlotte auto accident attorney can provide assistance to victims in pursuing a case to obtain compensation for losses.