New Study Shows That Some Are More Prone to Answering Work-Related Calls or Texts While Driving, Which Places Lives at Risk

According to a new study, there is one demographic that has issues answering work-related calls or texts while driving, and this is placing a number of lives at risk by contributing to distracted driving accidents on the road. The demographic that is most likely to engage in answering calls and texts while driving are those between the ages of 18 and 34; 37 percent of which indicated that they feel pressure to answer work-related messages while driving. This contributes to the high number of deaths due to distracted driving on a regular basis, which comes to almost 30 people per day, or 3,500 people per year.

Texting in Particular Increases Crash Risks

The first study that focused on texting, specifically, showed that texting not only far exceeds previous estimates, but far surpasses other distracted driving activities in terms of leading to dangers on the road. Specifically, when drivers text, their collision risk increases by 23 times, and in the moments before a crash, drivers typically spend around five seconds looking at their phones—enough time to span the length of a football field.

Teens Are the Most at Risk

Car accidents are still the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S., especially when it comes to the first 18 months after a teen gets their license. During this time, they are four times more likely than adults to get into an accident, in large part due to their tendency to get distracted. In 2015 alone, crashes due to distracted driving claimed the lives of close to 2.000 U.S. teens and caused injuries in close to 100,000.  In addition, as teen drivers become more experienced, instead of improved driving skills, they were more likely to drive recklessly due to increased confidence; including making phone calls and texting while driving. 

Employers Play A Role As Well

While drivers are unquestionably responsible for ensuring that they do not engage in distracted driving activities—especially when it comes to interacting with their phones—it is also important to note that employers have some responsibility in this as well, as they should be clear with their employees that safety is prioritized over everything else and that employees won’t face punishment for not answering messages fast enough. Employers should also help employees keep appropriate boundaries when it comes to work and home.

If You Have Been Injured by Distracted Driving in Texas, Contact Our Experienced Auto Accident Attorneys

Unfortunately, Texas is no stranger to drivers being on their phones while driving, which leads to negligent, dangerous driving conditions and car accidents. If you have been injured by a distracted driver, contact our Houston auto accident attorneys at The West Law Office today to find out how we can help.

Resources:

sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/heres-what-puts-teen-drivers-greatest-risk-crash

usatoday.com/story/money/2019/05/11/is-your-job-making-you-a-more-dangerous-driver/39439097/