The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reported research findings about driver behaviors in Florida and across the country. The agency expressed concern over the fact that many drivers most likely to engage in texting, speeding and other traffic violations were involved in car accidents in recent years. Interestingly, it appears as if many of these drivers are more inclined to avoid bad behavior in fear of being caught by police instead of fearing crashes.
An AAA spokesperson noted that many drivers who acknowledge that improper behaviors like using cell phones while driving are dangerous admit to doing it themselves. That, of course, makes them part of the problem. The gathered data indicates that a significant percentage of drivers do not avoid bad behavior after being involved in accidents caused by those violations.
AAA urges drivers to use the following tips to stay safe:
- Set smartphones to airplane mode or activate features to block incoming calls or text messages. Furthermore, putting the devices out of sight could prevent distractions.
- Stay alert and avoid driving while fatigued or drowsy. Fatigue could affect a driver in similar ways to alcohol impairment, such as slowing reaction times, vision and judgment.
- Avoid speeding to reach a destination sooner. Instead, excessive speed could change the destination to a hospital.
- Never drive after consuming alcohol, marijuana, impairing prescription medicines or other drugs.
- Always wear a seat belt.
While AAA and other safety authorities work to change improper driving behavior, car accidents will continue to occur. Victims of crashes caused by other drivers’ negligence likely have grounds to pursue claims for financial relief. This can be done by filing a personal injury lawsuit in a Florida civil court. The prospect might seem daunting, but retaining an attorney’s services with experience in this field of the law can simplify the legal proceedings.
