Florida counts more than 16 million drivers. This represents a lot of tickets and auto accidents occurring on our highways and roads. In 2009, 235 778 traffic accidents happened in Florida.
This is 646 crashes per day.
According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of fatal car accidents in the Tampa metropolitan area is among the highest in the country.
Distracted driving
Most of the time, when we address the topic of distracted driving crashes, we all tend to think about the use of electronic devices and the sadly famous “texting while driving”. The Driver Distraction in Commercial Vehicle Operations study, conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in 2009, found that individuals who drive while sending or reading text messages are 23 % more likely to be involved in an auto accident than other drivers.
It is also estimated that the majority of crashes usually happens within an average time of three seconds following any distraction for the driver.
So yes, texting while driving really is a killer, but do you know what else is distracting?
Spilling burning coffee on your lap.
Keep both hands on the wheel
You might not even think about it, but while you hold that cup of coffee, making your way through the morning traffic, the misspelled name on your latte cup should be the last of your concerns.
Anything that prevents you from having your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel might get you into trouble.
Lindsey Krieger learned the lesson when she was pulled over by an apprehensive police officer in Saint Paul, Minneapolis earlier this week. The Minnesota woman says she was “completely dumbfounded” by the reason of her interpellation: driving while drinking…coffee.
Even thought Krieger was not cited for sipping on her morning first cup, the law is clear on one element that Saint Paul police Sgt. Mike Ernster wishes to point out: “inattentive driving relates to anything that takes your attention away from those obligations of every driver, which is to pay attention”.
Quit the bad habits
The Driver Distraction in Commercial Vehicle Operations study, which lists different distractive tasks from “looking at the map” to “biting nails”, describes the action of drinking as follow:
“Driver drinks from a container: This also includes the driver opening/closing a drink container or anything closely related to drinking just prior to or after the trigger. Assumes driver is looking at and may reach for object.”
Eating and drinking while driving are considered as secondary tasks distractions. Basically, a driver behavior that diverts the driver’s attention away from the driving task.
Although it is seen as a lower risk by many drivers, eating and drinking is indeed another great distracter that can affect vehicle control just like the use of cell phones. This practice might actually be even more dangerous since it is an overly widespread and unexpectedly risky habit.
Indeed, a study by ExxonMobil revealed that more than 700 persons out of 1000 drivers admit their eating while driving. Another 83% says they drink soft beverages behind the wheel.
In other words, you are constantly surrounded by people driving with one hand, sometimes not even touching the wheel or paying attention for several seconds. Long enough for a collision to take place.
If you were involved in an auto accident in Tampa, St. Petersburg or Clearwater, know that it’s not because a certain form of distracted driving is overlooked that it’s no serious business.
Contact us now. Let our established reputation and one of our experienced car accident lawyers give your case the personal attention it deserves with a free consultation.
Drive safely. Let the cup holder do its job.
The post Yes, there is a reason why your car comes equipped with cup holders appeared first on John Bales Attorneys.
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