Thanks to safety campaigns from federal, state and local officials, virtually all Texans understand distracted driving can be exceedingly dangerous. Still, many drivers in the Lone Star State believe they have the necessary skills to drive safely while sending text messages, making phone calls or participating in other distracting activities.
Even though it can be difficult to communicate the seriousness of distracted driving, it is impossible to ignore the numbers. Indeed, according to QuoteWizard by LendingTree, more than 7% of all fatal car accidents in Texas between 2013 and 2017 involved at least one distracted driver.
How often do fatal distracted-driving accidents happen?
The QuoteWizard study shows that Texas has a problem with fatal distracted-driving accidents. During the study’s four-year period, there were 1,845 fatal crashes directly due to distracted driving. This means distracted driving caused someone’s death approximately every 19 minutes in the Lone Star State between 2013 and 2017.
How can you protect yourself?
You certainly cannot control how other motorists choose to behave when they drive. You can, however, commit to maintaining focus when you are sitting behind the wheel.
Remember, distracted driving can be about more than using your smartphone. The following types of distractions may put your life in danger:
- Visual distractions, where you take your eyes off the road
- Manual distractions, where you take your hands off the wheel or your feet off the pedals
- Auditory distractions, where you do not listen to the sounds in or around your vehicle
- Mental distractions, where you think about something other than driving
Ultimately, if someone’s distracted driving seriously injures you or kills someone you love, you may have legal grounds to pursue significant financial compensation.
