Driving Selfies
Driving on a road trip with family and friends is definitely fun. But remember, driving is a privilege. It requires skill, knowledge, and attention to be a safe driver. Research has shown that taking your attention off the road for even a second is enough to cause a potentially serious accident.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1,000 people are injured each day in the United States as the result of distracted driving. Any activity or behavior that diverts your attention from the task of driving is distracting.
Drivers may be distracted in three different ways, according to the CDC:
– Visually distracted, which cause you to divert your eyes from the road and look elsewhere while driving.
– Manually distracted, which cause you to remove one or both hands from the steering wheel.
– Cognitively distracted, which take your mind off the task of driving and increase the amount of time required to respond to changes in traffic condition surrounding your vehicle.
Taking selfies with your cell phone and posting them to social media involves all three forms of distraction.
According to the NHTSA (National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration), estimates that 8,730 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in the first three months of 2021, in the US. That is a 10.5% increase from the 7,900 fatalities the agency projected for the first quarter of 2020. Drivers who take selfies are putting themselves and their passengers at risk of serious and life-threatening car accidents and injuries.
It is up to the driver to be responsible and not use the cell phone while driving. Passengers should also not distract the driver while on the road. A selfie or a text while driving is not worth it. No one needs to see a picture of you driving. No selfies or text is worth ruining someone’s day – or taking a life.
In case of an unavoidable accident, the Law Offices of Payam Y. Poursalimi can answer any questions or concerns. Call the office for a free consultation at 877-PAYAMLA.
