According to data published by the National Safety Council, at least 100 people are injured and nine people killed every day in distracted driving car accidents. Drivers in Connecticut should be aware of the dangers that distracted drivers pose, and they may also benefit from learning about certain artificial intelligence measures that can help to reduce the amount of distracted driving. The most common distracted driving activity is cellphone use, including talking on the phone, texting and surfing the web while driving.
There are many other activities, though, that fall into the category of distracted driving. Rubbernecking at accidents on the road, for example, or conversing with passengers in the vehicle are both dangerous because they take the driver’s attention away from the task of driving, distracted driving has become so prevalent that it is nearly equal with drunk driving in terms of its negative economic impact. Distracted driving costs Americans $40 million each year; drunk driving costs Americans $44 million.
According to a study released in 2016, almost 50% of drivers admitted to reading text messages, sending text messages, using social media or using their phones to get directions while driving. Almost 60% of drivers who participated in the study said they had used their phones at least once while they were behind the wheel. Artificial intelligence systems may be able to reduce the number of visual, manual and cognitive distractions that affect drivers.
People who are injured in car accidents with distracted drivers may have claims for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages or other damages. An attorney with experience in personal injury law might be able to help injured parties by interviewing witnesses, deposing the at-fault driver or otherwise working to build a case for trial. Some cases may be settled without the injured party going to court.
