Using a cellphone in the car is certainly a form of distracted driving, and it’s one of the most common ones you’ll see all across America. People use their phones to stream music or access a GPS app. Others will make phone calls or text and drive, even when it’s prohibited for them to do so.
But one mistake that many drivers make is that they only think they’re distracted when they’re actively using the device. As such, a driver may think they’re being safe if they read or write text messages when they’re at a red light, as long as they don’t keep doing so after the light turns green. But is this actually true?
27 seconds of distraction
On average, a driver who uses their phone at a red light is still going to be distracted for another 27 seconds after they set the phone down when the light turns green. The distraction doesn’t end immediately, studies have shown, so drivers may be less safe as they proceed through that intersection than if they had simply kept their phone in their pocket the entire time.
Remember that distraction can be mental or cognitive in nature, not just visual or physical. When someone puts their phone down, they return their hands to the wheel and their eyes to the road, so the manual and visual distractions do end. But they still may be thinking about the message they were sending or receiving, and their brain isn’t quite as focused on driving the car as it should be. This can lead to avoidable errors and accidents.
Seeking compensation
Have you been injured in an accident that a distracted driver caused, perhaps at an intersection? If so, you may be able to seek financial compensation for lost wages, medical bills and much more.
