The threat posed by distracted driving can be a major danger for New York motorists. The ubiquitous presence of smartphones has meant that texting while driving, emailing and using other apps are constant distractions. In fact, a number of experts on safety have cautioned that the apparent ongoing increase in fatal car accidents in recent years is linked to the growing popularity of smartphones. Of course, however, smartphones aren’t the only cause of driving distractions; even the car’s own built-in navigation and entertainment systems can divert a driver’s eyes.
There is a widespread recognition of the practical dangers caused by driving while texting. However, surveys show that large numbers of drivers continue to engage in – and admit to – these practices. In a survey by Consumer Reports, over half of the licensed drivers who are also smartphone owners said that they sometimes browse the web, text or send email while behind the wheel. Sometimes, obstacles can help to prevent this behavior. For example, smartphone manufacturers include driving mode options that block incoming notifications and send automatic replies to text messages that arrive.
Physical actions can also help to avoid the temptation of distracted driving. Placing the phone out of reach and pairing the phone with Bluetooth can help to stop drivers from picking up their devices at a red light.
However, despite these suggestions, distracted driving is a threat to the safety of everyone on the road. Car crashes resulting from such behavior can cause catastrophic harm to occupants of other vehicles. Injured victims might want to have the help of an attorney when attempting to seek appropriate compensation.