Despite campaigns against distracted driving in Florida, it remains the cause of many severe injuries and fatalities. Florida law prohibits entering or typing multiple symbols, letters or numbers into any communications device to send an instant message, email or text. Although many other distractions exist, texting is regarded as most dangerous.
Distraction types
Safe driving requires a driver’s full attention to all aspects of driving to avoid any of the following distractions:
- When the driver’s eyes are taken off the road, it is a visual distraction.
- When drivers take their hands off the steering wheel, it causes manual distractions.
- When drivers think about matters unrelated to the driving of the vehicle, it is a cognitive distraction.
Drivers who text are distracted in all three ways, risking their own lives and the lives of their passengers, occupants of other vehicles, pedestrians and other road users.
Other distractions
Apart from texting, the following are also bad distraction habits many drivers have:
- Intense interactions with passengers
- Tending to children or pets
- Watching things outside the vehicle
- Eating and drinking
- Grooming or applying makeup
- Adjusting climate control or the radio or checking GPS information
- Daydreaming
Essentials for avoiding car accidents
Drivers’ perceptions are essential to arrive at their destinations safely. They must perceive the hazard and react promptly to bring the vehicle to a stop. Therefore, drivers’ perception of distance is crucial. That requires understanding the distance the car will continue traveling between recognizing a potential crash risk and hitting the brakes.
During that time, the information must go to the brain, instructions to hit the brakes must come back from the brain, and the driver must react appropriately. Even focused drivers will continue traveling about a football field’s length before coming to a halt. That is at a speed of 50 mph.
Victims of car accident injuries caused by a distracted driver’s negligence may seek damage recovery through the Florida civil justice system. However, proving that the other driver was distracted could be complicated. Navigating a personal injury lawsuit would only be viable if negligence can be established, with a monetary judgment to cover documented losses a potential outcome
