Blog

Are You Surprised by the Results of This Distracted Driving Study?

Do you think you know all there is to know about distracted driving? Do you have an idea in your mind of how dangerous it really is, or how many fatal car accidents are caused by distracted driving? Then we urge you to keep reading to learn about a recent study on distracted driving to see how it holds up. If you have been injured in a car accident and require a legal opinion, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.

The Basics of the Study

The study was completed by researchers at the University of Houston and Texas A&M. The study looked at 68 volunteers using a driving simulator. Each of the participants had a valid driver’s license and either normal vision or corrected-to-normal vision.

The researchers looked at every driver using visual and thermal cameras, palm sensors, a system that tracked their eye movements, and heartbeat and breathing rate monitors. The purpose was to look at sensorimotor distractions, emotional distractions, and cognitive distractions.

Each of the volunteers was driving the same stretch of highway four different times. One time they had no distractions, another they had cognitive distractions, another they had an emotional distraction, and the final time had a physical distraction. The simulator recorded the speed, acceleration, braking force, lane position, and steering angle of the drivers.

The Results of the Study

Texting is an example of a sensorimotor distraction and created more dangerous driving behavior than cognitive and emotional distractions. The study found that a person texting while driving was much more likely to swerve out of their lane.

This is Not News to the NHTSA

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) was likely not surprised by this information. They have gathered stats to show that nearly 3,500 people die each year in distracted driving accidents, with another 390,000+ injured in these accidents. They have found that most of these accidents could have been prevented if drivers and pedestrians were focused on the road.

Call Us Today to Request a Free Legal Consultation

If you have been injured in an accident that involved distracted driving, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation. We will go over the basics of what happened in your accident, what evidence you have regarding what happened, and other factors to determine what your best move is.

If we see that your case has merit and we decide to represent you, we will do so on a contingency basis. This means that you will not owe us for our legal fees until we win your case for you. Call Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas now at 909-982-0707 to request a free legal consultation.