Distracted driving in Southern California is on the rise. Anything that takes a driver’s eyes from the road, focus and attention away from driving, and hands from the wheel for only a couple of seconds, is considered a distraction. According to the Institute for Highway Safety, drivers who use handheld devices, such as cell phones, are four times more likely to hurt themselves or others. Other common types of distracted driving include:
- Texting and driving
- Surfing the Internet
- Checking or sending email
- Looking for songs on an iPod
- Eating with both hands
- Using a navigational system
These activities can seriously distract a driver and may lead to a catastrophic car crash in Southern California. If a driver has his eyes off the road, then he may not see the pedestrian crossing the street, the motorcycle driving next to his vehicle, or the car that just pulled out of the driveway. Habits that distract a driver can lead to the injuries and fatalities of innocent victims.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) stated that it has seen an increase in distracted driving and that cell phones are the leading contributing factor to inattentive drivers crashingrashes in California. The CHP issuess about 12,000 to 14,000 distracted driving tickets per month, which amounts to about two-thirds of itsmonthly tickets issued monthly statewide.
If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a distracted driving accident, then contact the experienced Orange County personal injury attorneys at the Law Office of John P. Burns at (877) 320-1338, or visit our website to request your free book, 9 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your California Vehicle Accident Case.