{"id":4500,"date":"2018-05-22T12:22:43","date_gmt":"2018-05-22T16:22:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/?p=4500"},"modified":"2018-05-22T12:23:13","modified_gmt":"2018-05-22T16:23:13","slug":"the-dangers-of-distracted-driving-and-driving-while-tired","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/the-dangers-of-distracted-driving-and-driving-while-tired\/","title":{"rendered":"The Dangers of Distracted Driving and Driving While Tired"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/motorvehiclesafety\/distracted_driving\/index.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, nearly 9 people are killed and 1,000 people injured by a distracted driver \u2013 each day. Distracted driving is dangerous for three fundamental reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Distracted drivers aren\u2019t looking the road in front of them<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Distracted drivers don\u2019t have their hands on the steering wheel. This makes it tough to respond to emergencies. Careful drivers have both hands on the wheel.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Distracted drivers aren\u2019t thinking about how to respond to dangers such as by braking, steering into a different lane, slowing down, or taking other safety measures.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b><i>Types of distracted driving<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Common examples of distracted driving including<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Texting while driving<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Speaking on a smartphone or cell phone<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using a GPS system<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eating while driving<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adjusting the radio<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Looking at a video<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conversing with passengers especially those in the back seat<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personal grooming<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drinking a beverage such as coffee or soda<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smoking<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drivers who are tired or who are under the influence of alcohol are also unable to anticipate, control, and respond to emergencies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A momentary lapse of even a second can be fatal or cause catastrophic injuries. A car travelling at 60mph is travelling <\/span><b>88 feet per second<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 which is about 4-5 car lengths.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CDC reports that teenagers have an especially high likelihood of driving while distracted:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drivers less than 20 years of age have the highest rate of distraction-related fatal accidents<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2015, nearly <\/span><b>two in five<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> high-school students said that they sent an email or text while driving in the previous 30 days. Many of these young drivers also admitted that they didn\u2019t wear a seat-belt while they were sending these emails and texts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b><i>Texting while driving laws in North Carolina<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">North Carolina enacted a strong texting while driving ban that applies to all drivers though it is especially tough on novice drivers. The law provides that adult drivers can speak on their cell phones while behind the wheel but they can NOT text while the car is in motion. The texting while driving ban applies to reading, sending, or composing a text message. It is not illegal to text if the car is stopped or is parked. Violators can be stopped by a police officer and ticketed even if they haven\u2019t committed another traffic offense.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drivers under the age of 18 (novice drivers) can\u2019t text while driving. They also can\u2019t use a cell-phone (even a hands-free phone). Novice drivers can also be stopped if they haven\u2019t committed another traffic offense.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bus drivers are also banned from using a cell phone while their bus is in motion \u2013 in addition to the texting while driving fan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Texting while driving in Virginia<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Virginia, it is unlawful for any person to operate a <\/span><b>moving<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth while using any handheld personal communications device to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Manually enter multiple letters or text in the device as a means of communicating with another person; or<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Read any email or text message transmitted to the device or stored within the device, provided that this prohibition shall not apply to any name or number stored within the device nor to any caller identification information.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fines are $125.00 for the first offense and $250.00 thereafter. <\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b><i>The dangers of driving while tired<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nearly 20 percent of all fatal car crashes are caused by a driver who is too tired &#8211; as reported by the <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/newsroom.aaa.com\/2014\/11\/one-five-fatal-crashes-involve-drowsy-drivers\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, The foundation also found that young drivers, those between 19 and 24, were the most likely to drive while fatigued. While nearly all drivers understand the dangers of driving drowsy, most drivers still drive \u2013 even though it puts their lives, the lives of passengers, the lives of other car occupants, and the lives of pedestrians at risk.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b><i>Indicators a driver is drowsy<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drivers and occupants of the cars need to know when they need to avoid getting into the car if they\u2019re tired or when to get off the ride if they\u2019re getting sleepy. They\u2019re no reason to risk a life to get somewhere a little faster. Drivers should plan to take regular rest stops. They should know where the hotels are where they can stop and sleep. Some of the signs of drowsy driving include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yawning constantly<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not remembering the most recent leg of a journey<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An inability to focus<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shifting into other lanes of traffic<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tailgating or getting too close to other drivers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Near misses<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traveling too fast<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Going through red lights<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Failing to stop for stop signs<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some recommendations for sleepy drivers include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Making regular rest stops for every 100 miles or for every several hours of driving time<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get plenty of sleep before you plan a long drive<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep your sleep\/awake patterns<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try to have another driver so you can take turns<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid medications that might make you sleepy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid relying on caffeine to keep you awake<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t trust that having the radio on will keep you from getting drowsy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid using cruise control<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some automakers who are aware of the dangers of drowsy driving are working to install technology that senses when a driver is tired. The cars sound alarms and even force the car to stop. Alas, that technology does not currently exist with any reliability. All drivers are responsible for any deaths or injuries they cause due to drowsy driving.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Talk with a respected North Carolina car accident lawyer as soon as possible<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In many cases, when a teenager or young driver causes death or injury, the young driver is not the owner of the vehicle. Attorney Joe Miller Esq. can explain when you can also sue the owners of the vehicle in North Carolina under the \u201cFamily Purpose Doctrine.\u201d \u00a0The car owners are generally the people who have liability insurance to pay for all your damages if the driver caused your injuries or the death of a loved one. If there is not enough insurance to cover you claim, you may be entitled to payment for your pain and suffering and economic losses from your own uninsured or underinsurance policy. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, if you were on-the-clock for your employer or your travel was connected to a business trip at the time of your accident, we can, of course, handle any Workers Compensation aspects to the claim as that is also a specialty of our firm. To make an appointment with an experienced North Carolina car accident attorney, please phone <\/span><b>(888) 694-1671<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or fill out the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/contact-us\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">contact form<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 9 people are killed and 1,000 people injured by a distracted driver \u2013 each day. Distracted driving is dangerous for three fundamental reasons: Distracted drivers aren\u2019t looking the road in front of them Distracted drivers don\u2019t have their hands on the steering wheel. This makes &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"The Dangers of Distracted Driving and Driving While Tired\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/the-dangers-of-distracted-driving-and-driving-while-tired\/#more-4500\" aria-label=\"Read more about The Dangers of Distracted Driving and Driving While Tired\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,12,1],"tags":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Joe Miller","author_link":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/author\/jmiller\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 9 people are killed and 1,000 people injured by a distracted driver \u2013 each day. Distracted driving is dangerous for three fundamental reasons: Distracted drivers aren\u2019t looking the road in front of them Distracted drivers don\u2019t have their hands on the steering wheel. This makes&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4500"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4500"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4500\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4500"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4500"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4500"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}