Recently the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that there was a significant 4 percent increase in pedestrian fatalities in 2010.
During 2010, a total of 4,280 pedestrians were killed in vehicle-related incidents and 70,000 were injured in 2010 in the U.S. That was the first increase of pedestrian deaths since 2005. Experts conclude that the upswing in deaths is likely related to an increase in distracted driving.
Distracted driving happens when someone is eating, putting on makeup, talking on the phone, or texting while driving. A few years ago, Car and Driver magazine did a study to see if drunk driving or texting while driving was worse. The results were surprising.
During the experiment, two drivers drove 70 m.p.h. on a closed track—one was legally drunk, and the other was texting. The drunk driver was able to stop his car within 4 feet of where he stopped it while he was sober.
The texting driver tried to brake while reading a text. His car stopped 36 feet beyond where he stopped when not distracted. Then he tried to stop while he texted and went an extra 70 feet.
Drinking and driving, or texting and driving, either one can result in death due to the negligence of a driver. If you have been the victim of a drunk driver or a distracted driver, you don’t need suffer because of their mistakes any longer. You should contact the Law Office of W.T. Johnson today to get the justice you are entitled to.
