New Study Favors a Multifaceted Approach to Stop Distracted Driving
According to police reports from 2020, distracted driving resulted in approximately 3,000 deaths in the United States. This made up 8% of all of the car crash fatalities in that year. However, it's likely that many more deaths from distracted drivers go unreported since it's hard to say with certainty if a crash and the resultant fatalities were truly caused by distractions.Distractions Are the New Normal
With more things to take drivers' eyes off the road than ever, these distractions are coming in from all sides. The issue has only grown with newer cars, which often come equipped with a touch screen on the dashboard that combines navigation and information with entertainment. Some other top dangerous driving activities include applying makeup and eating or drinking. In the past, the emphasis has been mainly on enforcement to prevent people from dangerous behavior while in traffic. This meant things like stronger and stricter laws with steeper punishments to make people behave better behind the wheel. But this has been shown to be less effective than a multifaceted approach.An Informed Public Is a Safer Public
In some cases, the missing piece of the puzzle is information. Many people still aren't aware of the dangers of distracted driving, and part of this multifaceted approach is to find effective ways to get the message to resonate. New data indicates that it may help to have someone close to show them the facts and discuss how important it is to them that they stay safe. Part of the goal of this approach is to create a culture where it is acceptable to wait until you arrive at your destination before you send a text or post an update. The data suggest that if more people talk about the risks they are more likely to avoid those types of risky behavior while they drive.
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