CELL PHONE USE INCREASES DISTRACTED DRIVING RISK – EVEN IF IT’S HANDS-FREE

Many California drivers have heard of the risks of using a handheld cell phone while driving or of texting while driving. However, many have not seen recent research that indicates that a hands-free device doesn’t reduce the risk of talking on a cell phone while driving. It’s the conversation, not the use of one’s hands, that increases the risk for a crash.

The study by the National Safety Council (NSC) revealed some troubling statistics:

• Car accidents cause about 40,000 deaths and 2.2 million injuries on U.S. roads each year. About 21 percent of all death- and injury-causing accidents involve someone talking on a cell phone – about three percent involve texting.
• Over 90 percent of Americans now have a cell phone subscription. Nearly all adults have cell phone service, and most carry their phones with them when they drive.
• Nine percent of drivers on the roads at any given time are talking on their cell phones. Sixty percent of respondents to one poll admitted talking on their cell phones while driving in the past thirty days, and over thirty percent say they do so almost daily.
• Talking on a cell phone increases one’s chances of causing a crash by 37 percent. This number remains the same whether the phone is hand-held or hands-free.

At Caputo and Van Der Walde – Injury & Accident Attorneys, our experienced San Jose distracted driving accident attorneys are ready to help after a crash. We’ll protect your legal rights as we investigate your accident thoroughly and fight for the compensation you need. Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation by calling (800) 900-0863 or visiting us online.