People in New Jersey who are concerned about the ongoing problem of distracted driving have good reason for their fears. Data shows that among teens, distracted driving contributes to almost six out of every 10 vehicular accidents. It also seems that texting and driving, while the most common form of distracted driving, is not the only thing people still do with their phones when they should be focusing on the road.
USA Today reported that in a new survey, 37% of millennial drivers aged from 18 to 34 felt a great pull to answer messages when driving. It seems that some of this urge comes from their desire to remain connected to their careers and jobs. Commute times have become additional work times for many people these days. This is leading some to encourage more business owners and managers to communicate their desire for safety over prompt message responses to their employees.
Many drivers are also found to be taking pictures and using social media while driving. Taking or watching video and even watching streaming shows on phones or other electronic devices round out the top distracting activities by drivers. Among drivers outside the 18 to 34 age range, only 25% responded to the survey indicating they felt highly pulled to answer messages or phone calls while they were driving.
Records indicate that the nation bears a roughly $40 billion bill every year due to distracted driving. With an average of nine distracted driving deaths occurring every single day, the country records approximately 3,500 completely unnecessary vehicular fatalities annually.