Utah Distracted Driving Accident FAQS
Table of Contents
What is distracted driving?
Distracted driving refers to a driving behavior that prevents the driver from devoting total attention to his or her driving. Most cases involve cell phone use. The driver made a conscious decision to become distracted and put other drivers in danger. We hold the drivers and insurance companies accountable. Call our Utah car accident lawyer today if you’ve been hit by a distracted driver.
What are examples of distracted driving?
A popular example of distracted driving behavior is using a cell phone to text, dial, and receive a call while driving. Eating, picking up a dropped object, applying make-up, looking at billboards, and anything that you can do while driving that effectively takes your eyes or attention from the road.
Which age group has the highest incidence of distracted driving cases?
15- to 19-year-old drivers have the highest incidence of distracted driving. 11% of fatal crashes were found to be in this age group and 21% of those involved were distracted by cell phones.
Why do people still drive distracted when statistics and reports have indicated that distracted driving has fatal consequences?
Most people do not realize the dangers of their actions thinking that they can manage both driving and other tasks at the same time. Stressful and busy lifestyles lead people to squeeze everything in by multitasking.
Is using hands free devices during driving still risky?
Studies have found that using cell phones through a hands free device has the same cognitive loads that occur when holding a phone and using it while driving. Talking to somebody on the phone takes some vital focus and attention from driving. Although you have not taken your hand off the steering wheel when using hands free devices, your brain is processing the conversation and this could prevent you from making wise driving decisions when something happens such as a vehicle ahead of you making a sudden stop, a biker suddenly appearing or a pedestrian crossing a street, among others.
What is the “Phone in One Hand, Ticket in the other” program?
It is an enforcement program launched by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in April 2010 initially in Hartford, Connecticut and Syracuse, New York. The pilot campaigns were the first in the country to test whether increased law enforcement efforts combined with public service announcements could get distracted drivers to put their cell phones down and focus on the road. Each program, which was supported by $200,000 in federal funds and $100,000 from the state, was modeled after NHTSA’s highly-successful national seat belt campaign, “Click It or Ticket.”
My friends and family often call me while I am on the road, what should I do?
Help your friends and family understand that you take your safety and the safety of others very seriously. Provide a voice mail with a recorded message that instructs callers to leave a contact number and message so you can return their calls as soon as you arrive at your destination.
How does law enforcement determine the involvement of distracted driving when there has been a fatality?
Law enforcement will base their findings from an eyewitness account, if there is any. If the cell phone is not damaged, they can check the call log or inbox to establish if the cause of the accident was distracted driving. If you have been involved in an accident that involved distracted driving, don’t hesitate to call us for a free consultation at Christensen & Hymas.
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