What are the problems associated with distracted driving?

Distracted driving is one of the most common forms of traffic violations that lead to car accidents in Oklahoma. Distracted driving is defined by any act where the driver of the vehicle is distracted due to external stimuli. Texting and driving, or talking on the phone while driving are often touted as some of the worst forms of distracted driving since they both take away the driver’s attention from the road.

The dangers of distracted driving is further illustrated by the study conducted by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration that stated almost one in every ten fatal car accidents were caused due to a distracted driver. This leads to over three thousand fatal car accidents every year. Studies conducted by authorities have also found that a car accident is twice as likely to occur when a driver is distracted for as little as two seconds.

A dangerous revelation in distracted driving study by the Traffic Safety Culture Index showed that a vast majority of drivers were still willing to engage in distracted driving. Over 83 percent of drivers admitted to texting and driving while over 58 percent used cell phones while driving, despite being aware of the dangers of distracted driving.

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