Cellphone use still a danger on North Carolina roads

Distracted driving continues to be a threat on North Carolina roads and a new study found that despite safety awareness campaigns throughout the country, distracted driving is still prevalent and more dangerous than ever.

A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 69 percent of drivers admitted to using their cellphone while driving during the past month. In addition, 31 percent of those drivers also admitted to texting while driving during the same month.

The CDC said that this was a 22 percent increase in the number of drivers texting while driving during the last two years. This is a significant safety issue in the U.S. as texting while driving and other distracted driving behaviors continue to cause serious and fatal car accidents in North Carolina and in the U.S.

The CDC reported an increase in fatal car accidents caused by distracted driving from 2010 to 2011. They said the number of fatalities caused by distracted driving increased by 1.92 percent in 2011. While the number of fatalities caused by distracted driving increased, the total number of car accident deaths in the U.S. actually decreased in 2011, which is good news but the CDC is still concerned over the threat cellphone use poses for drivers.

The CDC said that cellphones remain a threat to all drivers and that they can cause fatal accidents. Texting while driving is considered one of the most dangerous behaviors a driver can do and it turns people into reckless drivers because it takes their attention off the road completely.

Safety groups are hoping that new awareness campaigns can reach more drivers and finally decrease the number of traffic fatalities caused by cellphone use and other distracted driving behaviors.

Source: AOL Autos, “More Than Ever, Americans Texting Behind the Wheel,” Pete Bigelow, March 15, 2013

To learn more about our law firm, please visit our car accidents page.