Car Accidents Rise When Drivers Are Distracted

Staff Writer

Contributor

0 CommentsPrint ArticleSubscribe

InjuryBoard blogger in Tampa, Bob Carroll, brought to my attention a Washington Post article about a study which revealed that distracted drivers cause and are involved in more accidents than drivers who keep their minds on the task at hand. The study, conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute revealed that nearly 80% of accidents involve distracted drivers.

"We see people on the roadways talking on the phone, checking their stocks, checking scores, fussing with their MP3 players, reading e-mails, all while driving 40, 50, 60, 70 miles per hour and sometimes even faster," said Jacqueline Glassman, acting administrator of the government's highway safety agency.

Bob also noted that he has had clients involved in crashes caused by eating and driving, tending to children in the back seat, reading maps and reaching for the glove compartment.