Why Distracted Driving Is So Dangerous

Distracted driving continues to be a very big issue in Maryland and the rest of the United States. This is because many drivers do not take the effects of distracted driving seriously, putting their own lives and other people’s lives at risk every single day.

Therefore, if you begin to feel your mind, eyes, or hands wandering away from the task at hand, which is driving, it is crucial that you immediately refocus and regain your concentration again to prevent a dangerous car accident from occurring.

The data on the increasing prevalence of distracted driving

Unfortunately, distracted driving continues to increase in the United States every year. The National Safety Council (NSC) stated that “the percent of drivers manipulating hand-held electronic devices has increased 127%” from 2012 to 2021, and the Insurance Information Institute pointed out that distracted driving has increased by over 30 percent from February 2020 to February 2022. Here are some of the alarming facts and data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) regarding distracted driving in 2021:

• More than 3,500 people died as a result of distracted driving.
• Around 14 percent of injury accidents, 13 percent of police-reported accidents, and 8 percent of fatality accidents were distracted driving accidents.
• More than 360,000 people were injured due to distracted driving.
• Drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 were the most common to be distracted when a fatal accident occurred.
• Close to 650 pedestrians, bicyclists, and other individuals who were not in vehicles were killed in distracted driving accidents.

According to the Maryland Department of Transportation, the average number of deaths from distracted driving in Maryland is 209, and the average number of injuries from distracted driving is 24,345.

What Maryland laws cover distracted driving?

It has been over a decade since Maryland first implemented a law on distracted driving. The current law, Maryland Code, Transportation §21-1124, explains that it is illegal for any driver to read, write, or send any type of electronic message while driving or operating a motor vehicle on the roadway. The only time drivers can use a “text message device” while the car is in motion is if they need to text 9-1-1. For any other reason, texting while driving is considered to be against the law. Therefore, law enforcement officers can stop a driver for sending, reading, or writing a text message.

Drivers under the age of 18 cannot use an electronic device while driving unless they need to get in touch with 9-1-1. If a police officer sees a minor using an electronic device behind the wheel, they can stop the driver and suspend their license for up to 90 days. No driver should use their cellular devices for anything while driving a vehicle unless it is for emergency reasons, such as calling:

• 9-1-1
• An ambulance
• A fire department
• Police station
• First aid
• A hospital

If you are caught disobeying this law, you may be required to pay up to $75 for the first offense, up to $125 for the second offense, and up to $175 for the third or more offenses.

Five reasons why distracted driving is so dangerous

There are countless reasons why distracted driving is so dangerous, but these are five of the main reasons that you should know about:

1. When a driver is distracted, they may have delayed reactions: Texting while driving has been compared to drunk driving. This is because individuals who drive while doing other tasks are more likely to have delayed reactions, similar to a drunk driver. If your eyes or mind are focused on something else and the driver in front of you is turning or stopping, you may have a delayed reaction, causing you to rear end them. Distracted drivers may also wander or drift into another lane and cause an accident.
2. It is easy for distracted drivers to violate traffic laws: When a driver is busy with their distractions, it is very easy for them to violate traffic laws put in place to keep everyone safe. For example, a driver may be doing their makeup on their way to work and not realize that the traffic light ahead turned red. By the time they look up from doing their makeup, it is too late to stop the vehicle, causing them to run the red light.
3. Many distracted drivers are not aware that they are distracted in the first place: The fact that many drivers are not aware that they are distracted in the first place is very dangerous. This usually happens when a driver is daydreaming, thinking about an argument they had with their spouse, or even simply looking out the window at the sunrise. They may think that they are not distracted driving because they are not on their cellular device, but they are actually not giving their full attention to the roadways.
4. Distracted driving can lead to severe injuries and fatalities: Distracted driving has the ability to lead to severe injuries and fatalities. The reason for this is because a distracted driver may fail to notice simple things such as a pedestrian crossing the intersection or a bicyclist in the bike lane beside them. As a result, they may strike or run over the pedestrian or bicyclist, causing catastrophic injuries or death.
5. It only takes a few seconds to miss something important and cause serious damage: While some drivers may imply that they only took their eyes off the road for a few seconds, the NHTSA points out that five seconds at 55 mph is the length of a football field. It only takes a couple seconds to miss something very important like a traffic sign or a work zone, which could cause serious damage.

Have you been involved in a distracted driving accident? If so, please consider speaking with a car accident lawyer from Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. at your earliest opportunity. We can evaluate your case, help you collect evidence, and fight for the maximum amount of compensation you deserve. Call our office or submit our contact form to schedule your consultation at our various Maryland office locations at no charge today.