Carolina Needs To Know: Distracted Driving Statistics
Many people in North Carolina and South Carolina are aware of the dangers of distracted driving and driving while using a mobile device. However, despite understanding the dangers of distracted driving, individuals often don’t see the danger in talking “just this once” or “making a quick call.” Today is national No Phone Zone Day – what will it take for you to turn your phone off while driving once and for all?
• The National Highway Safety Association reported that 6,000 people died because of distracted driving in 2008. • A Nationwide survey found that eight out of ten Americans think that some sort of cell phone and texting laws are a good idea for reducing the number of car accidents and injuries. • The same survey found that 75 percent of respondents agreed that cell phone and text messaging laws should apply to all drivers – not just teens or commercial drivers. • A University of Utah study found that talking on a cell phone while driving reduce motorist reaction times as much as having a blood alcohol level of 0.08 (the legal limit in North Carolina). • A Virginia Tech distracted driving study found that truck drivers are 20 times more likely to cause an accident if they text behind the wheel. • The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that drivers who talk on cell phone are four times as likely to cause a car accident in which they are seriously injured. • Distracted driving is a factor in 25 percent of all car accident cases – and police have reason to believe it is often under reported. • A Carnegie Mellon study found that talking on a cell phone reduces driving-related brain activity by 37 percent.
Carolina Car & Motorcycle Accidents
Crashes Caused by Trucks
Medical Malpractice/Doctor Mistakes
Brain Damage/Head Injuries
Railroad Injury/FELA
All Serious Injuries
Dangerous Drugs/Medical Product Recalls