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3 Distracted Driving Myths You Should Ignore

Posted on January 8, 2016 in

Distracted driving is a dangerous behavior that often contributes to traffic accidents. Despite the fact that state and national authorities have conducted various anti-distracted driving campaigns to deter this behavior, however, many motorists still make the poor decision to multitask behind the wheel. And this ends up creating a significant risk of collisions – and injuries – for everyone sharing the roads with these distracted drivers.

To spotlight just how risky distracted driving is, below we’ve dispelled some commonplace misconceptions about it.

Important Facts about Distracted Driving

Distracted Driving Myths You Should Ignore

Myth 1: Distracted driving only ever causes minor fender benders.

The truth: Wrong – while federal authorities have discovered that distracted driving contributes to about 23 percent of all traffic crashes in the U.S., they have also reported that, each year, distracted driving:

  • Injures about 424,000 people
  • Kills about 3,100 others.

So, the real takeaway here is that multitasking behind the wheel can cause serious crashes, injuries and even deaths.

Myth 2: Using hands-free devices is not a form of distracted driving.

The truth: Wrong again! Whether motorists are holding cellphones, are having conversations on hands-free devices, or are engaged in other activities aside from driving, the fact that another activity is happening – and NOT the fact that the driver’s hands are holding an object versus the steering wheel – is the real cause of distraction.

In fact, research has indicated that using hands-free devices can result in motorists experiencing “inattention blindness,” meaning they don’t perceive the things they are looking directly at (because of the distraction in play). According to this research, inattention blindness can prevent motorists from perceiving up to half of their driving environments.

So, the fact is that hands-free devices are a common distraction for drivers. These devices do not make is safer to talk on the phone when driving.

Myth 3: Drunk driving is way more dangerous than distracted driving.

The truth: This is also a misconception, as research has indicated that distracted driving can be as – if not more – dangerous than drunk driving. This is generally because both distracted and drunk driving can cause:

  • Perception impairments
  • Delayed reaction times.

Some research has even indicated that distracted drivers can be as much as six times more likely than drunk drivers to cause crashes.

Contact Lakewood Auto Accident Attorney James L. Finegan

Have you been injured by a distracted driver – or by any negligent motorist? If so, Lakewood Auto Accident Attorney James L. Finegan is here for you, ready to help you advocate your rights to justice and compensation. For more than three decades, Attorney James Finegan has been aggressively defending the rights of injured people, vigorously standing up to even the most daunting defendants on their behalf, to help them obtain the best possible outcomes to their cases.

To schedule a free, no obligations case evaluation with Attorney James L. Finegan, call (303) 980-5511 or toll free at (888) 980-5511. You can also send an email via the contact form on this page.

From offices based in Lakewood, CO, James L. Finegan, P.C. provides superior representation to clients throughout Jefferson County and the state of Colorado, including those in Denver County, Arapahoe County, Douglas County, Adams County and the Colorado Front Range region.