If you’ve spent any amount of time driving in South Florida or the Treasure Coast, you’ve probably noticed more than one driver ignoring all the warnings about distracted driving. Despite the push to advertise the hazards of texting and driving to the public, it seems like the message is not sinking in for some drivers.
Frightening Distracted Driving Statistics
In the past five years, our roads have seen skyrocketing crash statistics. Between 2011 and 2016, crashes have increased a shocking 63%, while the death toll has gone up by 21% and injuries jumped by 34%. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FDHSMV) began tracking accidents caused by distracted drivers in 2015, and found there were 45,740.
These numbers are scary and sobering. Distracted driving now accounts for a full 12% of all the crashes in our state. Some law enforcement personnel and emergency responders feel that number may even be deceptively low. Asked by The Daytona Beach News-Journal, Sgt. Kim Montes with the FDHSMV said there have been cases when a texting driver dies in a crash and the phone is still in the deceased’s hand when paramedics arrive., “We also know it’s under-reported. In order to put it on a crash report, we have to have proof that someone was texting and driving. People don’t like to admit they’ve done something wrong.”
Causes for the increase of injuries and fatalities from distracted driver crashes
The explosion of popularity in smartphones may have a correlation with this staggering statistical increase. As the number smartphones went up, crashes on Florida roads went up from 229,210 to 373,853 in the same five-year period.
The easy and immediate access to texts, emails, photos and video has apparently proven to be too great a temptation for many people, especially young and experienced drivers. The CDC reports that drivers under the age of 20 have the largest proportion of fatal distracted driving accidents. In 2013, 2 out of 5 students who drove in the previous 30 day period prior to the study admitted to sending a text or email while driving.
In November 2015, House Bill 537 was introduced, which would provide for primary enforcement of the Florida Ban on Texting While Driving Law. The bill died in Highway & Waterway Safety Subcommittee review March 11, 2016. A General Bill, SB 328 was similarly introduced in 2015, revising legislative intent to authorize law enforcement officers to stop motor vehicles and issue citations as a primary offense to persons who are texting while driving; deleting the requirement that specified provisions be enforced as a secondary action by a law enforcement agency. It also died March 11, 2016 before Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities.
The Human Toll of Distracted Driving
The human toll behind these statistics is immense. The physical, emotional and financial burden suffered by the victims and their loved ones is unimaginable to most of us. If you have teenagers, talk to them about the dangers of distracted driving. If you find yourself looking at your phone instead of the road, please stop and think of the possible consequences to you and those around you.
If you have been the victim or are a loved one of someone who has been injured as a result of a distracted driver, contact a Personal Injury Attorney. The Law Office of Gloria Seidule is committed to seeking justice for those who have been harmed. Call today for a free case evaluation at 772-287-1220 or vist us at http://glorialaw.com/.
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