Many parents of young drivers often urge their children to drive safely. This means wearing a seatbelt and following the rules of the road. However, for many motorists in Montana and elsewhere, this means driving without distractions. Whether it is talking on a phone, using a GPS, eating, drinking, or having a conversation, these actions are distractions and could the cause of a serious or even fatal crash.
Who is likely to be a distracted driver? While teen drivers and young adults are more compelled by technology because they rely on the various types of smartphone applications, they are not the only demographic to blame for distracted driving. In fact, parents and adults often have a difficult time steering clear of their phones while they are driving.
Based on a poll, 56 percent of parents surveyed admitted that they checked their phones while they drive. If roughly half of all parents are driving distracted it doesn't do much for societal norms. This basically says that if mom and dad are doing it, then it must be okay for a kid to do it, too. In fact, 51 percent of teens state that they have seen their parents using their phone while driving.
The old adage of "do as I say and not as I do" is difficult to apply in this matter, especially when so many parents are modeling bad or wrong behaviors. While there is likely some influence on teen drivers when they see a parent using a phone while driving, there are insurmountable efforts made each year to address this driving issue. Various campaigns focus on the dangers of distracted driving in order to influence drivers of all ages in hopes of preventing distracted driving.
Although these efforts help to reduce the number of distracted driving accidents, these incidents still occur. If you have been injured by a distracted driver, it is important to understand that you have legal rights. A personal injury claim could help you hold accountable the negligent driver who harmed you assist you in your attempt to recover compensation for losses and damages.
