Reducing incidents of distracted driving in Kentucky

While behavior like checking a text or having a quick snack while driving does not seem harmful and does not always end in disaster, the chances of a car accident increase when a motorist is distracted. Distracted driving injures more than 1,153 people in the United States each day, and drivers in Kentucky can take steps to stop driving while distracted in order to reduce the likelihood of an accident.

Distracted driving is considered any activity that takes one’s hands, eyes, or mind off the road. Talking on the phone or texting while driving are huge causes of distraction that lead to many car accidents; while one may think hands-free devices are safe to use when driving, this activity still takes a driver’s focus away from the road. Research suggests that drivers miss audio and visual information that could help stop a crash when their cognitive functions are occupied by talking on hands-free devices.

Residents in Kentucky are banned from texting while driving, and bus drivers and novice drivers are banned from using a cellphone in any capacity while driving. Officers can pull over and ticket motorists who they see violating these bans.

Drivers are expected to follow the rules of the road and act with care while operating vehicles, and drivers who act reckless and break the rules could be held responsible when their actions lead to wrecks that cause injuries. If one suffers auto accident injuries, a personal injury claim in civil court might help one receive compensation for expenses related to an accident.

Source: NHTSA, “State Laws,” Feb. 1, 2015