• Car Club Directory
  • Event Calendar
    • Add Your Event
  • Gauge Swag
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Google Plus
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Gauge Magazine

Hot Rods, Mini Trucks, Lowriders, 4x4 and Imports

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Pinterest Instagram

Search Site

Latest Issue
  • Home
  • Issues
  • Gauge Girls
  • Gauge Store
  • News
  • Featured Rides
  • Event Coverage
  • Videos
    • Live Coverage
  • Buy Printed Edition
  • Latest Issue

7 Things to Know About Distracted Driving

March 24, 2021 By Gauge Magazine

Distracted DrivingDistracted driving is one of the most common reasons for car accidents in the U.S. Even a small and seemingly minor distraction, such as looking down for a second, can lead to a difficult situation. Many carmakers are equipping their vehicles with new safety features to reduce the risks of distracted driving, but there’s only so much your car can do for you. Below are 7 sobering facts about the risks of being distracted when you’re driving.

1. Distracted Driving Isn’t Just About Texting

Texting is one of the more common forms of distracted driving, but certainly not the only one.

Distracted driving is anything that is taking your attention from the road. This can include talking to a passenger in the car with you, using your navigation or entertainment system, eating, or drinking.

If your full attention isn’t on the road, then you are engaging in distracted driving.

Even just letting your thoughts wander behind the wheel can be dangerous.

2. It’s Potentially Deadly to Take Your Eyes Off the Road for 5 SecondsDistracted Driving

If you’re looking down to read a text, for example, even just for five seconds, by the time you look up again if you’re going 55 mph, you’ve already driven the length of an entire football field. Imagine closing your eyes and driving that field. It seems crazy, but that’s what you’ve just done.

Add to this the fact that it can take your brain up to 13 seconds to refocus on your surroundings after you look at your cell phone, even though you might feel like you just glanced for a second. While your brain is refocusing, your driving skills and attention aren’t at their peak.

3. Fatalities Rates Are Highest for Teen

Around 10% of all deadly crashes in 2015 were because of distracted driving, according to the NHT, and 15% of crashes resulting in injuries were. Many experts believe that distracted driving crashes are significantly under-reported too.

The risk of being in a fatal crash because of distracted driving is much higher for teens than for drivers who are 20 and older—three times greater, in fact.

Around 58% of all teen car crashes are attributed to driver distraction.

Statistics and data indicate that deaths from traffic crashes are going up due to distracted driving.

4. Texting Can Be More Dangerous Than Drinking and Driving

Research shows texting while you’re driving is six times more dangerous than intoxicated driving.

The Transport Research Laboratory found that texting slows your reactions as a driver by 35% while drinking alcohol up to the legal limit slows your reactions by 12%.

That doesn’t mean that drinking and driving aren’t incredibly dangerous and deadly, but statistically, it’s trending downward, while distracted driving deaths are going up. According to the NHTSA, drunk driving deaths have dropped by 1/3 in the past 30 years.

5. Texting and Driving is Illegal In Most States

It’s illegal in almost all states to text and drive. This includes 48 states, as well as Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Almost all of these states have what’s called primary enforcement laws. That means that if a police officer suspects you are texting and driving, they don’t need another reason to pull you over and give you a ticket.

The rest have secondary enforcement, meaning an officer would need another reason to pull you over before they could give you a ticket for texting and driving.

6. Law Enforcement Can Use Your Texts Against You

If you’re in an accident where someone is hurt, law enforcement can get your cell phone records as evidence you were texting and driving when the crash occurred. Deleting them won’t be helpful because law enforcement can get the records from your service provider.

7. People Don’t Take the Risks of Distracted Driving Seriously

Research continues to show that people recognize the risks of distracted driving. For example, in one survey, more than 84% of drivers said they recognized the distraction risk of cell phones and found it unacceptable to text or email while behind the wheel.

Even so, 36% of the same people said they’d almost sent an email or text message while driving in the past month.

It’s important to make the connection in your own mind about the risks of distracted driving and the very real possibility that if you engage in it, you could get in an accident and hurt yourself or someone else.

 

 

Filed Under: News

Related Articles

Gauge Magazine April 2021 Issue

The Pigeon Forge Rod Run

Indy Airstrip Attack 2020

26th Annual Southeast Minitruckin Nationals

6 Tips To Keep Your Car Looking Brand New

A Beginner’s Guide To Needing A Locksmith For Your Car

Is Motorcycle Insurance Expensive in Singapore?

7 Considerations When Buying Heavy Equipment

7 Reasons Why Dubai Has a Ton of Luxury Cars

Car Accidents: Causes and How to Prevent Them

How Mobile Auto Repairs Work And The Benefits

Looking for a Car Accident Lawyer? Here are Some Hiring Tips

How To Rent An RV: A Beginner’s Guide You Should Follow

Essential Road Trip Tips to Remember

Search Site

Dakota Digital

Latest Issue

November 2018 Gauge Magazine Cover

BUY PRINTED COPY

Gauge Magazine April 2021 Issue Find out more on MagCloud)

Air Suspension

air suspension for all vehicles

SITE SPONSORS

slamology automotive and music festival

Air Lift Air Supspension

adaptit usa wheel adapters

custom made wheel tubs

Ridetech suspension

Dakota Digital Gauges

Indy Body Werks indianapolis auto body shop

 

Like us on Facebook

Hot Links

Visit our Hot Links page to see our partners and favorite vendors and sponsors who can help you make the most out of your ride. Hot Links

Shop Gauge Store

Info

Back Issues
Models
Gauge Store
Vehicle Features
Event Coverage
Videos
Buy Printed Copy
Contact Us


Copyright © 2021 · Gauge Media Group Inc.