April Marks National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

You're busy, so your commute seems like a perfect time to return a few phone calls. Traffic jams create boredom and the urge to browse social media. But all of that puts you at risk. This April, take part in National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and pledge to put the phone down.

Legislators and police officers have been fighting distracted driving for years. Before the advent of the cell phone, the causes of a distracted driving accident were somewhat limited:

• Eating or Drinking in the car;
  
• Changing the radio station;
  
• Conversations with passengers; or
  
• Reading a map.
  

Now that smart phones are part of our everyday lives, the temptation is there for distracted driving every trip. Cell phones increase the risk of a distracted driving accident by putting calls, texts, GPS, and social media within our reach while we're behind the wheel.

But that temptation comes with a big risk. A distracted driver is three times more likely to get into an auto accident than one focused on the road. Michigan saw 7,000 distracted driving accidents in 2015 alone. 3,400 Michigan motorists were injured and 26 were killed.

It doesn't take long for a distraction to ruin your life. In the 5 seconds it takes you to send a text, you will have traveled over a football field on the expressway. That's long enough for another driver to cut you off, or an obstacle to come up and ruin your day.

That's why the National Safety Council has named April National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The non-profit organization is asking drivers nationwide to put away all their distractions – even the ones built into their vehicles:

“Drivers – 53% of them – believe if manufacturers put "infotainment" dashboards and hands-free technology in vehicles, they must be safe. But in fact, these technologies distract our brains even long after you've used them.”

Problems with built-in dashboards and hands-free devices can put you at risk, even when you think you're being safe. A screen that is too bright could draw your eye. An unfamiliar interface could distract you, actually making it harder to focus on driving.

Because you aren't responding to the road in front of you, a distracted driving accident can result in serious personal injury. A distracted driver won't hit the brakes or swerve to miss an obstacle. The higher the speed in a collision, the more likely the motorists involved will be seriously injured, or even die.

Do your part to put an end. The National Safety Council asks everyone to “Take Back Your Drive” by signing their pledge. Then put away the cell phone, sandwich, and other distractions and commit to paying attention to the road ahead. It could save a life.

Dani K. Liblang is a personal injury attorney at The Liblang Law Firm, P.C., in Birmingham, Michigan. She represents the victims of car accidents. If you have been seriously injured by a distracted driver, contact The Liblang Law Firm, P.C., for a free consultation.