The Need to Raise Awareness About the Dangers of Distracted Driving
Numerous car crashes each year are blamed for the use of these technologies, which in too many cases result in fatalities.
As it concerns the issue of distracted driving, something unique in the country of Sweden is happening this year. As of February 1, Sweden modified its existing distracted driving law to make it illegal to use handheld mobile phones while operating a motor vehicle. The auto manufacturer Volkswagen has grabbed the opportunity for both marketing its vehicles and raising awareness about the new law.
The government’s slogan for the new campaign is “Hands on the wheel, not on the mobile.” However, Volkswagen thinks the public needs more than this message from the government. Based on the number of crashes recorded due to distracted driving – which was 153 – the company handcrafted 153 iPhone cases, referred to as Crashed Cases, to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving and the new law. The proceeds from the cases are benefiting a charity that helps victims of car crashes with their rehabilitation needs.
Types of is distracted driving and its dangers
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), distracted driving is defined as any activity involving manual, visual, or cognitive distraction. Simply put, it is anything that diverts the driver’s eyes or mind from the roadway, or, anything that takes away the driver’s hands from the wheel. These activities may include texting, searching on the phone for directions, making adjustments to the radio console, talking on the phone, putting on makeup, eating, talking to a passenger, or searching for an item in the glove compartment or other location in the vehicle.
The act of driving and texting the same time is especially dangerous because it involves all three forms of distraction simultaneously – manual, visual, and cognitive. According to the CDC, a driver of a motor vehicle traveling 55 mph will cover the length of a football field in just five seconds – a long-distance in which something could go terribly wrong.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that in 2016, distracted driving was responsible for the death of 3,450 people.
Our legal team at Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers takes every avenue available to provide the highest level of representation to our clients in a comprehensive and affordable manner. Our utmost concern is to put the needs of you, our client, first. You can trust us to provide you with strong and vigorous advocacy if you have been the victim of a distracted driving crash in Chicago or the surrounding areas. We understand the financial burden and emotional distress you may have incurred due to the injuries and losses you have suffered. We will seek to secure all of the compensation to which you are entitled during this difficult time. To schedule a free appointment where we can review your case together, call us today at 312-600-9585 or complete our contact form.
Attorney Neal Gainsberg has spent the last 20+ years fighting to protect the rights of the injured in Chicago and throughout Illinois. For dedicated legal help with a personal injury, car accident, or wrongful death matter, contact Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers in Chicago for a free consultation.