The Dangers of Distracted Driving in Illinois

The Dangers of Distracted Driving in Illinois

A Rolling Meadows Personal Injury Attorney Is Here To Hear Your Case.

Modern life is fast-paced. It can feel like there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done, and then there are constant distractions from our online lives. Many drivers think they can address these things and multitask while on the road, but the statistics show that is a very dangerous game to play.

In 2014, the last full year statistics are available, more than 3,100 people were killed in the U.S. as a result of distracted driving, according to U.S. government statistics. Another 431,000 people were injured as a result of distracted driving. And 38 percent of those involved in fatal crashes were still in their 20s.

And while most people think of distracted driving as just texting, it goes much deeper than that. Doing anything besides paying attention to the road is a distraction, from eating and talking to passengers to using a GPS or petting a dog.

How to Avoid Driving Distracted on Illinois Roadways

Illinois has aggressively tried to curb distracted driving, outlawing texting while driving and requiring that any electronic devices used by a driver be hands-free. The thing is that those hands-free devices really aren’t that much safer than trying to type out a message when you’re behind the wheel. They’re still a distraction. The only safe way to operate a cell phone in a car is to pull over first.

Likewise, you should pull over for any major activity that you’re about to do before driving. It can be tempting to go through a drive-thru for lunch and pick up a burger. It’s cheap and it’s easy. But depending on what you get, pulling your food out of the bag and taking a bite is not a simple activity. If you want to avoid an accident, you’re much better off going in and eating, or at least eating in the parking lot before heading to your destination.

Finally, it’s important to remember that the biggest distraction isn’t always electronics. Often, passengers either talking too much or too loudly can be the biggest distraction. Sometimes, this is unavoidable, like if you have a fussy baby or a child throwing a tantrum in the backseat. But in the case of adults, it’s important that they understand what is and is not acceptable behavior when you’re behind the wheel so you can focus on driving.

Contact a Rolling Meadows Personal Injury Attorney Today

Sadly, more and more car accidents are being caused by drivers distracted by their cell phones, passengers, or even pets. Regardless of the reason for an accident, if you’ve been injured by the negligence of another driver, you’re entitled to compensation For a free consultation, contact SAM LAW OFFICE LLC in Rolling Meadows today.