Tag: #StopDD

What a Distracted Driving Case Looks Like

[May 2018 Update: Case has been resolved to client’s full satisfaction]

Our client is a victim of distracted and reckless driving.

In only a second or two, her life was turned upside down after being struck by a distracted driver. It can happen to you too.

She did nothing wrong and is an innocent victim. Here’s what happend.

As she did every night after getting home from work, our client was lawfully walking across the parking lot driveway at her townhouse complex to get the mail. When she started to cross, there were no cars.

Just before making it all the way across the driveway, a vehicle entered the parking area from the main street and approached our client from the left. Our client observed the drivers head looking down (probably at her phone but it doesn’t really matter).

What does matter is that she wasn’t being careful or watching where she was going. If she was she would have easily observed our client.In the next second or two, our client watched the vehicle approach and strike her as she turned to the side to try and avoid the collision.

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Are You a Distracted Driving Addict?

I believe that whether people realize it or not, most are addicted to their smartphones and other mobile devices. Even if they wanted to, they donā€™t have the self-control to stop using these devices while driving.

Understanding and acknowledging that thereā€™s an addiction is the first, of several steps, in fixing this growing safety problem. What happens next is up to all of us.

As reported by CNNā€™s Anderson Cooper, Silicon Valley is engineering your phone, apps and social media to get you hooked. Truth be told, youā€™re holding a modern day slot machine in your hand. Most people canā€™t stop using it even if they wanted to.

According to Google software engineers, every time you check your phone, youā€™re playing the slot machine to see, ā€˜What did I get?ā€™ (likes, shares, commentsā€¦). Your mind is being hijacked while creating habits. Potentially deadly habits when you do this while driving.

If you donā€™t believe me, take a close look at this recent post with interviews and videos, ā€œWhat is “brain hacking”? Tech insiders on why you should careā€

When you take in to consideration that smartphones are the new drug of choice for teens who also happen to be very inexperienced drivers, this entire safety issue has a whole new meaning.

Hands-Free is Not Safe

I believe the other big issue people are misinformed about is the false perception that itā€™s safe to use a hands-free Bluetooth system while driving. Itā€™s not. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth.

The evidence shows that hands-free and Bluetooth devices offer no safety benefits whatsoever. In fact, they ā€œdistractā€ you from the act of driving for up to 27 seconds after use. The same concept applies to the quality of your attentiveness while driving when your passengers are using their smartphones. Click here for the researchĀ 

If you canā€™t stop yourself from using your smartphone while driving, then youā€™re probably addicted to your phone. Please get help before somebody is killed.

Lead by example and turn your smarthphone off before turning your car on. Learn more about the facts of distracted driving by visiting StopDD.today EndDD.org and ItCanWait.com

Distracted Driving Survey Results

Do you consider distracted driving a public safety issue? What do you do when you see someone engaged in distracted driving?

Last month I posted a survey about distracted driving. A cross-section of 46 people responded from social media, business, law and the police communities. The survey is ongoing but here are the preliminary results:

Question #1: Have you had a family member or friend harmed or killed by distracted driving?

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Distracted Driving Social Media Community Survey

Please participate (and share) this 60 second community focused distracted driving survey!

To all business owners, social media users, and social media experts:

When you see someone updating social media or livestreaming while driving, do you believe this is a public safety issue? If so, what do you do, if anything, to fix the problem?

I ask this question because April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and Iā€™m trying to determine how the social media community feels about this issue. Iā€™m writing a new blog post on the topic and would value receiving your confidential feedback to this short survey.

By the way, if before answering this survey, you need more facts about distracted driving, I invite you to see Sue Scheff recent post ā€œThe Habit Of Distracted Driving: It Only Takes A Glanceā€ or the resources at StopDD.Today

Click to take this 60 confidential second survey on SurveyMonkey http://bit.ly/survey-dd and also please share with your family, friends, and social media communities. Thank you!

April 15th Update and Results: Click here to see the survey results.