Every Day Should Be Distraction-Free Driving Day

Everyone who gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle is required to drive responsibly and practice safe driving habits, and that means paying attention to the road.  When people drive while distracted and perform any activity that takes their attention off the act of driving, the chances of getting into a car accident increase substantially and can result in serious injuries and fatalities.

Unfortunately, distracted driving has become so prevalent that some have called it an “epidemic.” In an effort to recognize the dangers of and eliminate preventable deaths from distracted driving, April has been designated as Distracted Driving Awareness Month by the National Safety Council (NSC).

In Kentucky, State Police are participating in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Operation SafeDRIVE (Distracted Reckless Impaired Visibility Enforcement) campaign. This campaign cracks down on dangerous interstate driving and targets distracted driving as well as other unsafe behaviors, such as aggressive driving, speeding, tailgating, failing to wear a seat belt, and driving under the influence.

As part of these initiatives, the Johnson Law firm wants to remind everyone about the importance of concentrating on the road when behind the wheel. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving claimed 3,522 lives in 2021. NHTSA defines distracted driving as “any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system—anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.” Texting is the most destructive distraction, as sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.

All these distractions increase your risk of crashing, and the NHTSA reports that nearly 80% of crashes nationwide and 65% of near-crashes involve some form of distraction within the 3 seconds before the collision. If you drive safely and have avoided being involved in an auto accident with a distracted driver, congratulations are in order. But the reality is that operating a vehicle is a huge responsibility, inattentive drivers are everywhere, and the extra effort should last year-round. Every day should be distraction free.

Changes to Kentucky’s Distracted Driving Laws

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified three kinds of distracted driving. They are:

• Visual distractions — eyes are taken away from the road. Examples are using a GPS, rubbernecking, and checking out the scenery.
• Manual distractions – hands are taken off the wheel. These are behaviors such as texting, eating and drinking, or changing music.
• Cognitive distractions – the mind is taken off driving. This includes talking to another passenger or daydreaming.

Texting and using other technological devices result in all three distractions, so are particularly dangerous.  Kentucky originally banned texting while driving in 2010, and specified that texting and driving is prohibited for all drivers while the vehicle is in motion. However, drivers over age 18 or older were allowed to talk on the phone, use a GPS, and enter a telephone number or name for making a call.

In 2023, Kentucky expanded its distracted driving law to keep pace with technology and the increasing range of electronic communication platforms available that include apps, cameras, social media, and gaming. Prohibited “personal communication devices” now include computer, tablets, laptops, telephones, or any substantially similar wireless device that is used to initiate or receive communication, information, or data.

The expanded law prohibits the use of these devices while “operating a motor vehicle” and includes situations when the motor vehicle is temporarily stationary because of traffic, but allows use of devices in circumstances when the vehicle has pulled over to the side of the roadway.  It also allows:

• The pressing of a single button to activate, deactivate, or initiate a feature or function of a device
• The use of voice-based communication, of a global positioning or navigation system
• The use of a personal communication device to automatically convert a voice-based communication to be sent as a message in written form.
• The use of personal communication devices for emergency purposes.

However, drivers under 18 years old may not use a personal communication device or stand-alone electronic device, except for emergency purposes.

Punishment for Violations

Under the new law, a courtesy warning will be issued for violations occurring prior to January 1, 2024. Distracted drivers may be fined $50 to $100 for a first or second offense, $100 to $199 for a third or subsequent offense, or if there is an accident, and $200 to $250 for violations occurring in work zones or school zones.

Distracted Driving and Teens

The CDC reports the distracted driving situation is particularly dire for teen drivers. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, with about 2,800 teens in the United States ages 13–19 killed and about 227,000 injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2020. Motor vehicle crash deaths among teens 13–19 years of age resulted in about $40.7 billion in medical costs and cost estimates for lives lost in 2020.

Get Help for Distracted Driving Accidents

Driving and using a cellphone or other device at the same time makes it incredibly difficult to concentrate on either task. Our attention is being shifted back and forth, resulting in a serious cognitive distraction that is a recipe for roadway disaster.

The next time you take your eyes off the road in front of you, your hands off the wheel, or your mind off of driving, consider whether it’s really worth hurting yourself or someone else. And if you or someone you love has been injured by someone who took that chance, an attorney with experience can represent your interests in order to win compensation for the losses and damages that resulted.

At the Johnson Law Firm, we have been helping people involved in accidents for over 15 years, and we can do the same for you. We provide a free consultation to help you understand your rights and determine the best approach to winning the settlement you deserve. We work on a contingency basis, so there are no costs to you unless we win your case, so call us today.

Call 606-437-4488 now for a free, no-obligation consultation.