Count to five. Take just a moment, right? For five seconds is, on average, the time you take your eyes off the wheel when you text and that can end up costing you or someone else’s life. Reviewing your messages increases the risk of an accident by 23 times, since, according to experts in road safety, it involves visual distractions (you stop seeing the road), manuals (you take your hands off the wheel) and cognitive ones (you stop focusing your attention in driving).

The danger also extends to telephone conversations, even if using the hands-free. According to a study from the University of Utah, your level of attention is reduced and is equivalent to that of a driver with 0.08% of alcohol in the blood, that is, it is as if you were drunk, according to the legal limits allowed.

The cell phone is the main cause of distraction at the wheel, but not the only one. Talking to other passengers, eating a snack/sandwich or changing the radio station also increases the chances of accidents. In 2016, nine people died per day from distracted drivers and 1,071 suffered some type of injury, according to the Department of Transportation.

While there is no prohibition at the national level, 16 states (including New Jersey and New York) do not allow the driver to speak with the phone in their hand, and in all, except Arizona, Montana and Missouri (partially), they do not allow you can send messages. To avoid unnecessary tragedies, it is best to turn off the electronic devices and put them out of your reach before you start driving, use your seatbelt and make sure that others also have it fastened, as well as offer to make the call or send the message so that the driver does not get distracted.

The Ginarte law firm has more than 35 helping accident victims by driving distraction. For a free consultation call 1-888-446-2783 or visit https://www.ginarte.com.