Photo courtesy of yaktrinews.com
Over-correcting Lands Driver Upside-Down in Rollover Car Accident
A 29-year-old Pasco woman was looking away from the road when she crashed into a parked car and rolled her vehicle. Police say that she overcorrected and flipped the car over at 10th Street between Olympia and Garland.
First responders from the local fire department and police arrived on the scene around 10pm. The driver was trapped in her car and they worked quickly to free her. She was then transported to an area hospital for evaluation and treatment.
A spokesman for the police say that they do not know why she was distracted at the time of the crash, but that she was cited for negligent driving. https://www.yaktrinews.com/news/pasco-woman-injured-in-rollover-crash/698217558
Dangerous Distractions Car Accident
In 2015, almost 3,500 people were killed and over 391,000 more injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver. Research is also showing that at least 10% of fatal crashes, 15% of injury crashes, and 14% of all police-reported traffic crashes are also the result of dangerous driving distractions. With the growth of technology and social media, distracted driving fatalities have risen at greater rates than drunk or drowsy driving, speeding, and failure to wear a seatbelt.
Many states have countered these sad statistics with new laws on the books. Yet despite distracted driving laws being enacted across the country, drivers continue to engage in a variety of risky behaviors behind the wheel. Some of these behaviors include texting, talking on the phone, accessing social media sites, or fidgeting with controls within the vehicle. https://www.enddd.org/research-stats/
Safety is No Accident
The number of people dying from distracted driving car accident cases on the road is preventable, but the distraction problem is so prevalent, that thousands are dying every year from it. Controlling driving and risky behaviors is extremely difficult. Many education campaigns have set out to inform drivers that their choices matter, especially when they are driving. The statistics don’t lie, and as we’ve seen with the growing trend, we have many more years and needless deaths to come from distracted driving.
What can we do?
Innovators and engineers have sought to make our modern conveniences more hands-free and accessible, all while complying with the new laws. But these technological advancements have often been an excuse for many drivers to keep multi-tasking behind the wheel. Software companies have made voice-activated technology very exciting and on the leading edge. But when it comes right down to it…voice-to-text is still distracted driving.
Granted, transcribing does require less attention than texting does, but the distraction is there all the same. Why? Drivers still need to take their eyes off of the road to press the “Send” button. And more importantly, how many people will be completely satisfied with just speaking into their phones, trusting Siri to do an accurate job of understanding everything they say, and then send that message without proofreading? Anyone that’s ever used transcription software know that it’s not perfect and is often riddled with grammatical and spelling errors. So, in the end, the driver is still going to end up looking down at their phone to read and make corrections. http://cultureofsafety.thesilverlining.com/safety-blog/2011/10/what-does-siri-mean-for-driving-safety
Here are some Safe Driving Tips that everyone can personalize and use to improve their driving behaviors and habits. Because bottom line–preventing distracted driving is good for everyone on the road!
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Anticipate Your Digital Needs Before You Even Start the Motor!
Make a habit of thinking about what calls or texts you need to send before you begin your trip. Before you start the car, take a moment to think about what information you might need during the trip. For instance, program your GPS at the outset, rather than fiddling with it during the drive. Make that call to ask your mom a question before you’re on the road. Text your friend that vital piece of gossip, then put away the phone.
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Plan for a safe ride ahead of time!
The idea of a designated driver has caught on for drunk driving, and choosing a substitute can be just as useful for distracted driving. Select a friend to be your designated texter while you’re behind the wheel.
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Put it away!
Stow your phone somewhere you can’t peek at it. Try putting it in the glove compartment (lock it if you must) or inside a purse in the back seat.
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Silence is Golden…which is actually a code word for SAFE!
Silence notifications that tempt you to check your phone.
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We’re all tempted at times-so Get Help!
Investigate apps that will help boost your willpower. There are several types of apps on the market, some of them free, that allow you to block incoming messages or send automatic responses to let your friends know you’re driving.
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Patience is a Virtue!
Practice patience. Consider whether it’s worth risking your safety—and that of others in your car and on the road—to read a text while driving. Then wait until you’ve reached your destination.
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Even Pinky Promises can save lives!
Make a promise. If you are a person of your word, consider signing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s pledge against distracted driving. Picturing your name on the pledge could help you keep your thumbs off the phone.
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Can’t Endure to the End?
If you absolutely cannot wait, pull over when you can do so safely. Swerving to the side of a busy highway is never a good option, of course. If you are driving on a road with safe places to pull over, use them to stop and text. https://www.digitalresponsibility.org/safety-tips-to-avoid-distracted-driving/
Commit to Safety
Distracted driving is a trend that will takes millions of individuals working and acting together to stop. Everyone will have to make their own personal choice to “stow before you go”–all the temptations that take our eyes from the road–like cell phones, headphones, i-pads, food, and even drinks. Encouraging friends and passengers to help the effort is critical to its success. We are all examples to each other when it comes to showing responsibility and commitment to distraction-free driving.
Local law enforcement and lawmakers have already paired together to crackdown on offenders. Distracted driving is a completely preventable negligence that, if we can eliminate, there would be thousands and thousands more people alive to thank us.
Auto Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers Are Here to Help
If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident caused by possible negligence or a distracted driver, call Fielding Law Group today for a free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys. Our team of professionals will work hard to get you the compensation you deserve so you can recover and get on with your life. Remember–Don’t let an accident wreck YOU!
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