The Issue of Distracted Driving in Mississippi

Several recent studies have indicated that distracted driving is a growing issue. Distracted driving is considered to be anything that takes a motorist’s attention off of the road. This can include everything from eating to changing the radio station. However, smartphones are a significant source of distraction for many people.

According to data from AT&T’s It Can Wait Campaign, around seven out of every 10 people use their cell phones while driving. About 40 percent of people use social media while driving, and a fifth of respondents stated that addiction was their reason for staying on social media even while they were behind the wheel. Alarmingly, 10 percent of individuals have reported that they video chat while driving.

The group of drivers most likely to engage in risky behaviors while on the road are apparently young Millennials who are between the ages of 19 and 24. According to a survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 88 percent of individuals in this age group reportedly engaged in at least one unsafe driving behavior. Making the issue worse is that many of these individuals do not see their behaviors as unsafe.

An individual who engages in distracted driving is increasing their risk of being involved in a car accident. Crashes involving distracted drivers can be dangerous since people will often have delayed response times. If someone has been involved in a crash caused by a distracted driver, they may be able to obtain compensation for crash-related expenses from the at-fault driver or their insurance company. A lawyer could help a client file a claim for compensation.