Distracted driving is an epidemic in the United States. According to the National Safety Council, every day, at least nine Americans die and 100 are injured in distracted driving crashes. Cell phones, dashboard touchscreens, voice commands and even the in-vehicle technologies that are designed to keep your hands free, pose a danger.
The Three Types of Driving Distractions:
- Manual – Moving your hands away from the wheel
- Visual – Taking your eyes off the road
- Cognitive – Thinking about something other the drive
Texting is the most severe distraction. On average, sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s equivalent to driving the length of an entire football field without paying attention to the road. Any non-driving related activity you engage in is a distraction as it takes your attention away from the task of safe driving and leads to distracted driving.
What are the Consequences of Distracted Driving?
If you are distracted while you are driving, your chances of crashing are increased. Distracted drivers are the most likely to be in an accident. This may also include causing injury to your passengers or other motorists.
What are the Legal Penalties?
Penalties vary based on the local anti-distracted driving laws in your state. In most states, you will be fined but in others such as Utah and Alaska, the penalty is more severe and includes jail time. Your insurance rates may also increase since in a number of states, there are demerit points received. If you accumulate past the threshold of points, your license could be suspended or taken away completely.
About E&Y Agency
E&Y Insurance and Tax Agents are dedicated to giving our clients the products that provide quality protection and value pricing and the peace-of-mind in times of crisis. Our goal is to establish a successful partnership with our clients, our staff members, and our partner companies. Our success is measured by our clients choosing us because they believe in our ability to meet or exceed their expectations of price, service, and expertise. Call us now to talk about your auto insurance at (248) 817-8071 or fill in the form below!
