Alarming Statistics on Social Media Use and Distracted Driving
Despite numerous warnings, drivers are still oblivious to the dangers that present itself when they engage in use with their smartphones, when they are meant to be focused on their task, which is driving. This was revealed in a study done by AT&T.
Before now, almost all emphasis was being placed around texting and driving, which is an example of distracted driving. The AT&T survey shows that most participants, while driving frequently access their social media accounts.
Below are the comprehensive results of the distracted driving behaviors survey:
- 61 percent of participants were involved in sending or receiving text messages
- 33 percent of participants were involved in Sending or reading email messages
- 28 percent of participants were involved in Surfing the Internet
- 27 percent of participants were involved in Accessing Facebook
- 17 percent of participants were involved in Taking a selfie or other photo
- 14 percent of participants were involved in Accessing Twitter
- 14 percent of participants were involved in Accessing Instagram
- 12 percent of participants were involved in Taking a video
- 11 percent of participants were involved in Accessing Snapchat
- 10 percent of participants were involved in Video chatting:
While driving, 60 percent and above admitted to keeping their phones where they can easily reach them. About 22 percent admitted to their social media addiction, and this behavior causes them to ignore the potential dangers that can occur.
Most social media sites claim that users that are driving have been discouraged from accessing their sites. Presently, the social media site Snapchat is being charged with a lawsuit by a car crash victim. The victim’s attorneys says that the app has a speed filter that shows the speed at which a user was moving when a picture was taken. Reckless driving is indirectly encouraged in users, and therefore everyone is at risk.
In the lawsuit, the Snapchat user was aiming for 100 mph in order to capture the image and to post it on the site. When she failed to notice the victim’s vehicle pulled over on the side of the road, crashing into his vehicle at a speed of 107 mph, but 55 mph was the posted speed limit. This crash resulted to the permanent brain damage of the victim, he will need assistance in getting around, making him incapable of supporting himself.
Contact an experienced Nashville TN personal injury attorney in Jeff Roberts Associates, PLLC at to assist if you have been the victim of a car crash caused by a distracted driver. We will work effortlessly to get legal recourse due to you from the driver responsible for your injuries.
Sources: http://about.att.com/story/smartphone_use_while_driving_grows_beyond_texting.html
