GHSA Recommends that Texas, Other States, Work Harder to Prevent Distracted Driving

A distracted driver is a threat to all they share the road with. While this is no great surprise, the extent of the problem is shocking. A new, in-depth review of distracted driving research, performed by the Governor's Highway Safety Association (GHSA), shows that not only are drivers still texting and talking while driving, states such as Texas are not doing all they can to prevent accidents caused by distracted driving.

The Scope of the Problem

During their review of current distracted driving research, the GHSA found that the following data was consistently noted during each study:

• Drivers are focused on tasks other than driving at least half of the time they drive
• Distraction is noted as a primary cause of approximately 15 to 25 percent of accidents
• While cell phone use increases the risk of an accident, texting increases the risk even further
• Drivers tend to adapt to risky driving situations (high volume of traffic, increased speed) by limiting distraction and paying more attention to the road

Solutions on the State Level

Knowing that drivers are paying more attention to their cell phones and other distractions than to the road, what can we do to stop them? Most of the solutions proposed by the GHSA rely on increased safety measures and the passage of distracted driving legislation on the state level. Suggestions for improved distracted driving prevention include:

• Adding edgeline and centerline rumble strips on more roads
• Better recording of distracted driving in accident reports
• Reviewing current bans on cell phone and texting use to determine if the countermeasures are having a positive impact
• Better enforcement of current cell phone and texting laws

Change Starts at Home

All of us could use a reminder to put down the phone and drive. Be sure that in your house, you talk about the dangers of distraction, and lead by example. As Dallas auto accident attorneys we do understand that it's tempting to multitask while driving. However, just one moment of distraction is all it takes to cause a serious accident. Please, join our law firm in putting an end to distracted driving in Texas. Together, we can make a difference.