Most Oklahoma drivers are aware of the dangers of driving while talking or texting on a handheld cellphone. However, there are still many people who believe that using a hands-free device is a safe way to talk and drive. Though hands-free technology may be safer than using a handheld cellphone, it is still a dangerous distraction that can lead to accidents.
Cellphone use is particularly hazardous because motorists often talk for extended periods of time. Even when both of a driver’s hands are on the wheel, the driver’s mind could be distracted by the conversation that they are having on their hands-free device. While a driver is talking on a cellphone, his or her brain may fail to process as much as half of the outside environment.
According to the National Safety Council, cellphone use leads to 1.6 million car accidents every year. To help raise awareness about distracted driving and the dangers of both handheld and hands-free cellphone use, the NSC has created several informative videos, posters and other materials. The NSC is encouraging people to share its free information during the month of April, which it has named Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
A person who has been injured in a car accident that was caused by a distracted driver may want to have the help of an attorney in pursuing compensation for out-of-pocket medical expenses and other losses that have resulted from the collision. Unlike sobriety, there are no effective roadside tests that can be used to measure inattentiveness, but cellphone records could show that the driver was talking or texting at the time of the accident.