Number of Distracted Driving Accidents Keep Rising Despite Warnings

 Posted on April 06, 2021 in Car Accident

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. According to national statistics, more than 700 people are injured every day in accidents caused by distracted drivers. More than 3,000 of those victims die every year, and despite all of the education and warnings about how dangerous engaging in distracted driving behaviors is, these numbers continue to increase each year.

In Colorado, distracted driving is responsible for more than 40 car accidents every day, resulting in thousands of injuries and death each year. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is joining the nationwide campaign, announcing its own Distraction Reactions campaign.

Colorado Distracted Driving Statistics

While the COVID-19 pandemic forced many people to stay home and off the roads, vaccine rollouts are easing restrictions, meaning more drivers will be back on the roads. And, many of those drivers will be on their smartphones or doing some other activity that takes their focus off the road. In a 2020 survey conducted by the CDOT, 92 percent of drivers admitted to engaging in distracted driving. This was up by two percentage points from the 2019 survey.

It is easy to get a better understanding of how much this dangerous issue has increased just by looking at the data. In 2012, there were 13,332 distracted driving accidents in Colorado. In 2019, that number spiked to 15,143—despite the numerous studies and data that prove just how deadly distracted driving can be.

Take the Pledge

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is asking that all drivers – adults and teens – take the pledge to not engage in any activities that distract from driving. Visitors to the NHTSA’s website and fill out an online form, pledging to drive safely and receive a certificate. Drivers pledge to:

• Not have any phone conversations, including hands-free, handheld, or Bluetooth
• Not to use voice-to-text features on their vehicle’s dashboard systems
• Not to use any social media sites
• Not to check or send text messages or emails
• Not to take selfies or videos
• Not to enter any GPS information
• Not to call or message anyone if they know that person is driving

Contact a Fort Collins Distracted Driving Attorney for Legal Help

If you have been injured in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, you may be entitled to financial compensation for the losses your injuries have caused you. Call Hoggatt Law Office, P.C. at 970-225-2190 to schedule a consultation with one of our skilled Larimer County car accident attorneys to find out what legal options you may have against the driver who caused the accident.      

Sources:

https://www.codot.gov/news/2021/march-2021/42-crashes-distracted-driving

https://www.nhtsa.gov/distracted-driving/april-distracted-driving-awareness-month

https://cloud.safe.nsc.org/ddam-pledge