Florida authorities are reaching out (again) to remind drivers to put their phones down when they’re driving.
The newest message comes from the Panama City Police, who have been desperately trying to remind people that distracted driving is deadly. Distracted driving is actually a statewide problem. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles says that around 50,000 car accidents in 2020 were caused by distracted driving.
Cellphone use combines three different types of distractions
There are three primary types of distractions that can affect someone’s ability to drive:
- Manual distractions that cause them to take their hands off the wheel
- Cognitive distractions that cause them to take their minds off their driving
- Visual distractions that cause them to take their eyes off the road
With one hand on your phone, your mind on what you’re trying to say, read or type and your eyes darting back and forth between the screen and the road, you’re combining all three distractions into one (potentially fatal) action.
Florida authorities are reminding drivers that cellphone use behind the wheel is a primary traffic offense, which means you can be pulled over and given a ticket (and points on your license) if an officer spots you with your phone in your hand.
More importantly, the authorities want to remind drivers that they’re risking their lives — and the lives of others — when they let themselves get distracted behind the wheel.
If you’ve been injured by a distracted driver, you may have the right to compensation for your injuries, lost wages and more. That may be the best way to hold a distracted driver accountable for their actions.