Texas Has High Percentage of Distracted Drivers
Texas roadways can be scary due to large trucks and lots of vehicles on the roadways. Another issue you need to be aware of is distracting driving.
That’s because data compiled by insurance company USAA shows that Texas has some of the most distracted drivers in the country. Among all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Texas ranked # 8. The state had a 14% rate of distracted driving crashes during the first six months of 2023, which means that Texas drivers were distracted by their phones for an average of 14% of their drives. This is above the national average of 12.1%.
Distracted driving accidents refer to crashes that involve texting, phone calls and other phone-related distractions that divert drivers’ attention from the road. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving contributed to 3,522 fatalities in the United States in 2021.
The states with the highest percentage of distracted drivers were Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The states with the lowest rates of distracted driving were Vermont, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Oregon.
The report was created by data from USAA’s SafePilot app. The smartphone app offers USAA customers discounts when the app is used to track their driving patterns. The program is offered in 47 states and Washington, D.C. It is not available in California, New Jersey, and Delaware.
Keep in mind that the number of drivers tracked by the USAA app is just a small portion of all drivers. There are more than 230 million licensed drivers in the United States and the app tracks just 800,000 of them.
The app uses sensors such as GPS to capture data about people’s driving habits. The app shows how well the person is driving as well as how they can improve. The ultimate goal of the app is to help make roads safer.
The app monitors distractions such as making phone calls, texting, and surfing the internet. GPS apps and music apps do not count as distraction unless there is “significant phone movement” associated with the use of these apps. Distractions that do not involve phones, such dealing with pets and passengers, cannot be tracked with the app and therefore were not included in this study.
It’s important to know that anything that causes you to take your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel can be considered a distraction. This includes reading, eating, grooming, changing the radio station, and dealing with unruly pets.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
Car accidents can be caused by a number of factors, but distracted driving is growing. Drivers think they can multitask while behind the wheel, but this is not a safe practice.
Injured in a crash? Get legal help from a Houston car accident attorney from The West Law Office, PLLC. We can guide you through the claims process and help you receive full compensation. Call 281-347-3247 or fill out the online form to schedule a free consultation.
Source:
expressnews.com/news/article/texas-drivers-distracted-18352728.php
