Why Distracted Driving Crashes Increase Around the Holidays

At Dewey, Ramsay & Hunt, our Charlotte car accident attorneys know that the holidays bring all types of hazards to our roadways. With increased holiday travel and more drivers on the road, accidents happen without notice throughout North Carolina.

We’ve talked about how holidays increase drunk driving accidents, and how North Carolina is already struggling with a tragic number of impaired driving collisions, injuries, and fatalities year around. What we have not talked about is how distracted driving crashes can be just as devastating this time of year.

Here’s why.

Your Vehicle’s Onboard Technology Can Be Very Dangerous

When we think about distracted driving, the first thing that comes to mind is people texting while driving. This is certainly a very dangerous activity, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration describes “sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.”

However, according to Market Watch, texting is not the only dangerous driving distraction.

A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reported programming navigation was the most distracting task, taking an average of 40 seconds for drivers to complete. When driving at 25 mph, a driver can travel the length of four football fields during the time it could take to enter a destination in navigation.

When motorists are traveling over the holidays, they rely heavily on GPS technology to get them where they are going, which can include zooming in and out of the map feature, or looking for nearby attractions, retail outlets, or restaurants along the way.

The danger lies in using these features, like voice-based and touch-screen technology, which takes the driver’s hands, eyes, and mind off the important act of driving.

If you are traveling this holiday season, it is important to program your GPS before you put your vehicle in drive. If you must make changes to your route during the trip, do so during a stop or have a passenger make the changes for you.

Getting where you’re going safely is more important than potentially missing a turn.

Contact Our Knowledgeable Car Accident Attorneys in Charlotte, North Carolina

At Dewey, Ramsay & Hunt, we hope you and your family get everywhere you need to go safely this holiday season, and hope that you will never need us.

If you do, our leading auto accident lawyers in Charlotte provide free consultations by calling 704-377-3737 or contacting us online. Contact our Charlotte personal injury attorneys for more legal help.

We provide unique legal services tailored to fit each client’s needs and do not get paid unless you do.

Because every case is different, the description of awards and cases previously handled by our law firm does not guarantee a similar outcome in current or future cases.