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Hang Up and Drive

By Daniel E DAngelo Esq on January 14, 2016

In the United States, the odds that an auto collision involved a careless driver on a cellular phone are 1 in 4.[1]

HangUpandDriveThat means that cell phones are responsible for well over a million collisions on our roadways each year. And it’s not just texting to blame – it is estimated that drivers talking on handheld or hands-free devices are responsible for 21% of crashes on roadways. Texting on the other hand, is responsible for an estimated 5%. Even drivers engaged in conversations via Bluetooth or other hands-free devices can easily be distracted. When you’re driving, you need to be focused on the road – not your phone.

Our culture has made driving more difficult thanks to a strong demand for instant gratification. Whether it’s an instant reply to a text or email or being constantly informed on the latest bit of news, we have grown accustomed to the convenience of an on-demand lifestyle. It’s time for everyone to take the “It Can Wait” (AT&T’s drive to reduce cell phone usage while driving) campaign seriously.

Let’s review some more alarming facts regarding cell phone use while driving:

  • According to a recent survey, 70% of drivers use their smart phones while on the road. Activities include, but aren’t limited to: emails, texting, Facebook, and Twitter. [2]
  • Over 60% of drivers admit to texting while behind the wheel.[3]
  • 17% of drivers in a recent survey admitted to taking selfies and 12% are actually recording videos while driving.
  • Texting while driving increases the chances of an accident 23 times.
  • Texting while driving is EVEN MORE unsafe than drinking and driving.
  • 20% of drivers admit to “surfing the web” while driving.
  • 11 teenagers die daily because they were driving while texting or riding with someone who was texting.
  • 25% of teen drivers say they respond to at least one text each time they drive.[4]

These statistics are astonishing, and in some cases, unbelievable. It’s hard to fathom the idea that people are actually shooting videos and surfing the web while actively driving – but it’s true.  Not only are people driving like this, but they realize how unsafe it is – and still do it! In fact, 94% of the teens asked acknowledged that they knew using their cell phone while driving is an extremely dangerous practice. So why do we still do it? Clearly there is a disconnect somewhere along the line. If we know answering that text while we’re driving is so dangerous, why can’t we resist it?

The reason so many people have trouble avoiding their cell phones – even during a quick trip – is directly tied to our “on demand” culture that drives a need for instant gratification. We are used to having whatever we want almost as soon as we think about it. This means it will take a conscious effort for most of to avoid using the cell phone while driving. It’s not that people want to cause a collision that harms others due to their carelessness – it’s that they don’t even consider the consequences.

This is exactly where we – as a society – need to make a change. The next time you get in your car, make a concerted effort NOT to look at your phone, even when the notification sounds calls to you, tempting you towards distraction. Before you reach for it, consider whether seeing or replying to that text is really worth it.

It’s essential that we work together as a society to reduce these needless collisions and pay more attention while driving. Clearly we aren’t placing enough emphasis on this issue – or we wouldn’t be facing such an uphill battle.

Cell Phone Use While Driving in Colorado

Here in Colorado, drivers under 18 are prohibited from using a cell phone at all. Drivers 18 and over are not allowed to use their phones for texting, emailing, or other acts (like twittering). Additionally, cell phones are only supposed to be used in the event of an emergency while driving. Drivers can be ticketed for violated this law, which went into effect in December of 2009.

While it’s great that our state has taken steps to address the issue of cell phone usage, one must ask, what more can be done? The penalties for violating the cell phone law in Colorado are very minor, and there hasn’t been a real reduction in cell phone related collision eithers.

I wouldn’t be surprised to hear anyone admit to using a cell phone while driving, it’s something that most of us have probably done at some point in our lives. But the next time you reach down for your phone, you must think, “Is this text worth it?” A quick hands-free conversation is one thing, but getting fully engrossed in a deep conversation can be distracting enough to cause a collision. It’s time that we all dedicated our full attention to the road, rather than the latest text, Facebook post, or Tweet. You may not think so, but you can make a huge difference all on your own. By refusing to use your cell phone while driving, you make at least one driver on the road safer, and you set a good example for anyone who might be riding along with you.

It’s also important to know what to do if you are the victim of a careless driver – on their cell phone or otherwise distracted. You’ve got to take steps to protect yourself, and that’s exactly what the D’Angelo Law Firm does. We can ensure that your best interests are always a focus, reach out to us if you need help.


[1] http://www.nsc.org/NewsDocuments/2014-Press-Release-Archive/3-25-2014-Injury-Facts-release.pdf

[2] http://about.att.com/story/smartphone_use_while_driving_grows_beyond_texting.html

[3] http://www.refinery29.com/2015/05/87688/texting-while-driving-stats-att#.aqw55kn:XHng

[4] http://healthresearchfunding.org/46-important-texting-driving-fatalities-statistics/