Mann Wyatt Tanksley Injury Attorneys knows that texting while driving is one of the leading causes of death for motorists. When this dangerous practice is combined with inclement weather, however, it only compounds the issue. This unsafe practice can result in a higher number of auto accident injuries and fatalities.
“Texting while driving takes your eyes off the road longer than any other distracted driving offense,” explains Scott Mann, auto accident attorney. “It involves reading, writing and reacting to a message, which takes at least 5 seconds. If you are driving 55 mph, this means you are not looking at the road for 100 yards.”
The number of motorists who are driving while operating a phone or electronic device at any given time in the U.S. is 660,000 (National Occupant Protection Use Survey). The leading cause of death for teenagers behind the wheel is no longer DUI — it is now texting while driving. In a 2013 study published by the Cohen Children’s Medical Center, texting while driving resulted in 3,000 teen deaths and 300,000 injuries.
Scott says: “Texting while driving is actually a problem for drivers of all ages. Motorists who text while they drive are just as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than motorists who are driving while intoxicated. When this is combined with inclement weather, the results are even more tragic.”
Drivers attempting to navigate a road covered with ice, snow, rain or sleet need to be alert at all times. Inclement weather decreases your reaction time by a wide margin. It takes longer to stop, change lanes, or make a simple turn. A slick road demands the full attention of a driver. This is why texting motorists are at such a terrible disadvantage. They aren’t watching the road, which can result in terrible accidents.
Call our auto accident attorneys if you have been injured by a motorist who was texting while driving.
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