Summertime. You might think of lemonade stands, kids riding skateboards, summer camp, or even summer jobs for teens. But the reality is that summertime is one of the most deadly seasons for new drivers, and a shocking number of accidents are caused by distracted driving.
What Makes Summer So Dangerous?
With kids home from school, there are more new drivers on the roads in the summer. That’s not to say that all accidents are caused by new drivers, but the fact is the more drivers there are on the roads, the more likely an accident is to happen.
Sadly, Texas was recently rated as one of the 20 worst states for distracted drivers. It was determined that Texas drivers were spending as long as three and a half minutes out of every 100 minutes driven on their smartphones. Given that cars travel at the rate of 55 miles per hour, that means there was over a minute and a half of distracted driving each hour. It only takes a few seconds to destroy a life.
What Is Distracted Driving?
While the common vision of a distracted driver is the one who is texting on her smartphone, this is not the only way a driver can be distracted. Distractions can include:
- Eating or drinking while driving.
- Putting on makeup.
- Watching a video or YouTube.
- Playing with any type of audio system (car radio, mp3 player, etc.)
- Self-grooming.
- Programming a navigation system.
- Playing music so loudly that outside traffic noise cannot be heard.
Basically, anything that draws the driver’s attention away from where it belongs (the road) can be a dangerous and even deadly distraction. Smartphones, of course, are the most common offenders because we use them so much and so many people feel they need to respond or know what is happening immediately. But taking the time to check Facebook or answer a text might be the reason someone else takes her last breath. That is never acceptable.
If you or someone you care about was hurt in an accident with a distracted driver, you need legal advice and counsel from someone who understands. Talk to Crowe Arnold & Majors, LLP. We offer a free case evaluation to help you understand your rights. Contact us at (214) 231-0555.
