ARE YOU A DISTRACTED DRIVER?
If you are a distracted driver, the US government has a website just for you. According to www.distraction.gov, “In 2014, 3,179 people were killed, and 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.” Those are sobering statistics.
We can all understand the hazards of distracted driving. We have heard tales of someone who was eating a sandwich, looked down to adjust the radio dial, or checked his or her image in the mirror and subsequently plowed into another car. Perhaps we have had that—or a similar experience—ourselves. But today, new technologies have taken distracted driving to another level.
For example, talking on our cellphones is commonplace. Most of us are so used to being on our phones that we don’t even think of using them while driving as a danger. But it has been shown that even using Bluetooth while driving ups the level of distraction and contributes to the risk of a car accident. And the negative impact of texting versus talking on the phone appears to be even more severe.
If you want to lower your risk of getting into a car accident, avoid or limit the following activities while driving.
- Eating and drinking
- Talking to passengers
- Adjusting the radio, CD player, or MP3 player
- Grooming (and dressing!)
- Reading maps or other materials
- Using a navigation system
- Talking on a cell phone
- Texting
- Watching a video
Here at Accident and Injury Chiropractic, we encourage you to drive distraction-free. And remember, if you are in a car accident contact the nearest Accident and Injury Chiropractic office immediately so we can help you heal and get back behind the wheel—driving safely—again.
In a report in June, 2016, CBS news listed the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States. While you are probably well-aware of the top 2—heart disease and cancer—did you know that the 4th leading cause of death is accidents, especially car accidents? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are, on average, 3,300 fatalities a year from car accidents in Texas. But that, of course, is only part of the story. Even non-fatal accidents can have serious consequences often resulting in huge medical costs and loss of productivity.
