Why All Drivers Need to Put an End to Distracted Driving in Florida

Although driving is an activity to get from Point A to Point B, driving can also be the most dangerous thing you do every day. Because a car accident can occur without warning, it is critical that all drivers are focused on the road and task at hand in order to reduce their chances of crashing.

While many drivers are driving defensively and paying attention to the road, many drivers are, unfortunately, texting at the wheel. Although all drivers — at one time or another — have probably sent a text message behind the wheel, the truth of the matter is that teen drivers are much more likely than older drivers to send text messages while driving.

About a quarter of teens surveyed said they have responded to at least one or more text messages every time they drive, according to a survey by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. This isn’t shocking, seeing how the largest proportion of drivers who are distracted are drivers under the age of 20 and in their early 20s. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 27 percent of distracted drivers in fatal collisions are drivers in their 20s, and about ten percent of drivers under the age of 20 were reported to have been distracted in fatal crashes.

Texting and driving is downright dangerous. Thankfully, the message is getting out there, and more and more people — including teenagers — are understanding the risks associated with texting at the wheel of a moving motor vehicle. In fact, the number of fatalities associated with distracted driving has dropped 6.7 percent from 2012 to 2013; however, more people have been injured in distracted driving crashes — 424,000 people injured in 2013, up from 421,000 in 2012.

Because the numbers of injuries and deaths associated with distracted driving are still high, it is important that all drivers in Florida and nationwide understand that anytime they take their eyes off the road to text, dial their cell phones, or even reach for their phones, they increase their chances of crashing. For this reason alone, the Law Offices of David Benenfeld would like to encourage all teenagers, college students, young adults, seniors, and all drivers on Florida roads to take the pledge to stop distracted driving.

If you have been injured by a distracted driver, you have rights to seek a financial recovery for your damages. To find out more about your rights to a personal injury lawsuit in Florida, contact me at (954) 677-0155 for a free consultation today.