Motorists in the U.S. are increasingly becoming more
dangerous on the road. At least half the time that they are driving, they are
engaged in some form of distraction. This was concluded by the largest,
federally-funded study in the U.S., which the results were recently published
in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers
with the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) reported that in the
early 2000s, drivers in the U.S. had a per-mile fatality rate that was better
than the vast majority of developed countries. Today, however, the U.S. is
ranked No. 17 out of 29. In terms of roadway fatalities, our per-mile death
rate, as compared to other countries is:
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11.4 in the U.S.
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3.7 in the U.K.
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6.8 in Canada
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9.1 in the Philippines
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6.8 in Brunei
The main issue causing these numbers in the U.S. especially
is the phenomenon of cell phone distraction. The study tracked the driving
habits of 3,500 drivers over the course of three years. With permission from
the participants, of course, researchers installed cameras, sensors, and radar
inside the participants’ vehicles. They tracked the drivers’ behavior with
every mile they drive. Participants were fully aware they were being watched,
though the results were anonymous. In the end, researchers were able to analyze
data from 35 million miles traveled.
Researchers discovered that drivers here in the U.S. are
using their phone in some way for 50 percent of the drive. And despite that
many states have laws about no texting while driving and we all are aware that
it is dangerous, cell phone use while driving still remains a prominent issue
for most U.S. drivers.
Texting itself wasn’t actually all that common. Researchers
saw drivers texting about 1.91 percent of the time. However, the drivers who
did text increased their odds of an accident by 6-fold, as compared to drivers
who were 100 percent alert and attentive. Dialing a number was less common –
observed just 0.14 percent of the time. Yet, researchers found that it was
correlated with a 12-fold increase in car accidents. Talking on the phone was
more common, with researchers observing this behavior 3.24 percent of the time.
Talking on the phone showed to double the odds of a crash. Reaching for a phone
increased the risk of a crash by five times.
Aside from cell phones, eating, drinking, and applying
makeup didn’t make much of a difference in driver performance. However, driving
while emotionally distraught had a big impact. Even though this was only
observed to occur about 0.2 percent of the time, someone who was extremely
emotional or agitated resulted in a 1,000-fold increased risk of an accident.
If
you or someone you know has been involved in a car crash or truck accident in
Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling Heights, Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor,
Livonia, Dearborn, Canton, Westland, Troy, Farmington Hills, Southfield,
Waterford or any other city in Michigan, make sure to contact Motor City
Accident Attorneys by calling 1-800-411-PAIN. Motor City Accident Attorneys
know how stressful a car accident can be and want to help you get back on your
feet. They will fight tirelessly for your rights and help you get the
compensation you deserve, according to your specific case. Make sure to follow
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