Excuse the distraction, but this is an important message.
Do you know that adults are more likely than teens to text while driving? To make matters worse, adult drivers know the practice is unsafe.
According to a report by USA Today, a whopping 98 percent of the 1,011 adult drivers in an AT&T survey said they knew texting while driving is wrong. Yet 49 percent admitted they do it. That’s compared with 43 percent of teen drivers who say they also text and drive.
The survey also found that six in 10 adult drivers did not start texting while driving until three years ago.
Sobering Stats
The findings come on the heels of a national campaign to combat distracted driving in which 39 states and the District of Columbia banned the practice for drivers of all ages.
“It’s not just a teen problem,” said John Ulzycki, of the National Safety Council. “You’re looking at around 10 million teen drivers, but about 180 million other adult drivers.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that on average each day, more than nine people are killed and more than 1,060 injured in crashes caused by distracted drivers. In 2011, crashes involving distracted drivers killed 3,331 people, up from 3,267 in 2010, according to the Department of Transportation.
Closer to home, South Carolina officials are working on a bill to help reduce distracted driving. The legislation would allow fines up to $10,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment for a motorist who causes a fatality while texting.
Practice Safety
If you have been injured or lost a loved one in an automobile accident caused by a distracted driver, our accident attorneys at Joye Law Firm may be able to help you get compensation. Call 888-918-4958 or use our online form for a free initial consultation.
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