Distracted Driving Awareness
Illinois declares National Distracted Driving Awareness Week as April 24-28th
It is very easy to become distracted while driving your vehicle. So much to do and so little time, so we feel the need to multi-task in the car. Have you been distracted while driving?
While driving you…
- Sent a text to a friend
- Searched through your purse to find your phone to answer a call
- Let you dog sit in your lap distracting your view
- Turned around for a few seconds to talk to your child in the back seat
- Applied makeup because you didn’t have time that morning
These are all considered distracted driving. Taking only one second off the road can cause an serious accident. Is it really worth your life or someone else’s?
Distracted Driving Facts
According to the NHTSA, distracted driving has claimed 3,477 lives and injured 391,000 people in motor vehicle accidents in 2015. NHTSA leads the national effort to save lives by preventing this dangerous behavior. During daylight hours approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones while driving. NHTSA leads the fight nationally against distracted driving by educating Americans about its dangers and partners with local police to enforce laws against distracted driving that help keep us safe.
Causes of Distracted Driving Crashes
- Cell Phone Use – 12%
- Eating or Drinking – 2%
- Talking to passengers – 5%
- Messing with radio – 2%
- Reaching for or using another device (navigation, etc.) – 2%
- Looking at something outside of the car – 7%
- Attending to pets or children – 1%
- Daydreaming – 62%
Illinois Laws
The Illinois State Police, AAA and more than 200 other agencies have declared Distracted Driving Awareness Week to be April 24-28 in Illinois. Texting while driving is illegal in Illinois, however many admit to doing it. Texting and driving is a problem, especially among young drivers age 16-24.
In Illinois, the law permits the use of a cell phone only when using a Bluetooth headset, earpiece, or voice activated commands. The first violation is $120 and the cost increases with the number of violations.
Have you been injured by a Distracted Driver?
Unfortunately, there are many distracted drivers on the road who continue to break the law. If you have been injured in an auto accident due to a distracted driver, you need an experienced personal injury attorney to handle your case. Give us a call at 618-932-2772 or contact us via our convenient online form.