Modern cars come with a host of technology to help drivers. Some, such as anti-lock braking systems, can improve your safety without you needing to do anything extra. Others require or tempt you to interact with them.
Driving requires your full attention, so anything that diverts your attention is a problem. While navigation systems and hands-free phone systems are meant to help you, they may do the opposite. They could be making your journey more dangerous by distracting you.
Research is unclear about how much of a role distraction plays in crashes
Crash fatality records report distracted driving as a factor in around 3,000 to 4,000 crashes every year for the past decade. Many people believe the true figure is much higher because distraction will only be entered as a crash factor if one of the drivers admits to it or someone else sees them and tells the police.
A Nationwide Insurance poll put distraction as a factor in 50% of crashes, and other studies have found that over three-quarters of the respondents admitted to using their phones while driving.
People assume that something installed in a car is safe to use
Most people don’t give a second thought to using the technology that manufacturers put in their vehicles — much of it right on the dashboard. They check their route on a map, answer a phone call or flick through music choices. All those actions could be enough of a distraction for a driver to cause a crash.
If someone injures you in a crash, there’s a fair chance they were distracted by their technology. Getting legal help to prove it can increase your chances of getting the compensation you need.
