NHTSA Survey Finds Cell Phone Use While Driving Rate Higher Than Ever

In order to drive home the seriousness of the distracted driving threat, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently released the results of a new survey into cell phone use while driving. The results of the survey are extremely disturbing, to say the least.

The survey finds that Americans continue to use cell phones and electronic communication devices while driving, in spite of the fact that there is enough evidence to indicate that such practices are injurious to their health. The new data comes from the 2011 National Occupant Protection Use Survey, which finds that at any given point during the daytime; as many as 660,000 motorists are using cell phones or electronic devices at the wheel.

In this context, it is also important to note that in that same year, more than 3,300 people were killed in accidents related to a distracted driver. About 387,000 people were also injured in these accidents.

Clearly, this is a serious problem with no quick-fix solutions in sight. Motorists must understand that using cell phones while driving is extremely dangerous, and seriously increases their risk of being involved in an injurious or fatal accident.

This April, resolve to switch off your cell phone when you get into your car, and keep the phone switched off till you reach your destination. Make use of cell blocking technologies, voicemail features and number of other technologies that are currently available in the market, to reduce the risk of cell phone-related distractions at the wheel.

The Texas car accident lawyers at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P., Accident & Injury Lawyers  represent persons injured in car accidents across Texas.