Distracted driving often comes from the fact that people are addicted to their phones. They know that they should not text and drive or check social media at a stoplight or make a call on the way home from work. They know that it increases the odds of a crash. They just feel like they can’t help it. They’re so used to being on their phones all of the time that they’re essentially addicted.
It’s just getting worse. A report in Forbes in 2019 said that the total amount of drivers who are addicted to their phones doubled between 2017 and 2018. They claimed that in 2019, about 1 out of every 12 people behind the wheel would classify as an addict when considering their phone habits. The report also noted that a driver who is addicted to their phone may spend more than a quarter of the drive (28%) not paying attention to the road around them.
It gets worse. The study went on to look at phone use at different times of the day. The peak hours brought up a staggering range of 60% to 80%. That’s how many drivers were using their phones behind the wheel.
Phone addiction takes many forms. Some drivers read texts; others send them. Some talk on the phone. Many use social media or even actively post from the road. Others just cannot ignore a push notification — even as simple as seeing that someone liked their photo on Instagram. There’s no reason to check it immediately, but they do. Distraction runs rampant.
If you get hit by a distracted driver, you may be able to seek financial compensation for your losses and suffering.
