Distracted Driving in New Mexico Increases Risk of Car Crash

There are many reasons why car accidents in New Mexico occur which include speeding, running a red light, negligence, distracted driving, drunk driving, vehicle malfunction, and failure to yield, among others. But, did you know that distracted driving in New Mexico occurs with cell phone use and texting, which is one of the biggest driving concerns in our nation today?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), National Safety Council, and other organizations are urging motorists not to drive while using their cell phones. There have been new studies and research to prove that using handheld phones behind the wheel is increasing and leading to more crashes on the roads in New Mexico and throughout the nation.

The outcome of NHTSA’s 2008 study proved that drivers are four times more likely to be involved in serious crashes while using their cell phones than drivers not using handheld devices. The results also confirm that during daylight hours, there are an estimated 812,000 vehicles operated by drivers who are using handheld cell phones at any given minute.

Interestingly, the National Safety Council (NSC) conducted several public opinion surveys and found most motorists consider using cell phones behind the wheel dangerous; however, drivers are still using handheld devices. Drivers are not just talking on cell phones behind the wheel, but they are using them to text, tweet, email and facebook. Other distracting devices are iPods, GPS systems, BlackBerry’s, and iPhones.

The NSC states that 1.6 million vehicle accidents occur each year as a result of using cell phones while driving. The results from NHTSA’s 2008 study demonstrate that approximately 515,000 people were injured in car accidents involving one form of distracted driving, and nearly 6,000 people died as a result.

The reason officials believe that using cell phones behind the wheel is so dangerous is because it can cause drivers to take their eyes off the road, hands off the steering wheel, and not pay attention to driving. Doing an activity that may distract drivers from what they should be doing (driving), can increase the potential to crash.
Unfortunately, reports also confirm that driving while distracted led to more fatal crashes and increased from eight percent in 2004 to eleven percent in 2008. People under the age of 20 were in the highest risk group to be in a fatal crash due to distracted driving.
Driving with a cell phone can be dangerous and lead to a car crash in New Mexico. If you have been injured in an Albuquerque car accident and you believe it was caused from distracted driving, contact a knowledgeable New Mexico accident attorney for legal representation. Contact our Albuquerque law office at Keller & Keller today at (505) 938-2300 for a free legal consultation.

WHAT'S MY CASE WORTH?