Q: How common are distracted driving accidents in Pennsylvania?
Since April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, states everywhere are pushing to raise awareness of this serious problem. How prevalent is it in your community?
How Serious Is Distracted Driving in Pennsylvania?
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), distracted driving is a growing problem in our state. Take a look for yourself at these statistics compiled by PennDOT:
- In 2021, 12,703 car accidents in Pennsylvania involved a distracted driver.
- A total of 58 of those distracted driving crashes caused a fatality.
- Distracted driving contributed to 10.7 percent of all crashes in our state in 2021.
- Between 2019 and 2021, distracted driving caused 37,451 crashes, including 157 fatal accidents.
While 10.7 percent might not seem like a high number, keep in mind that every one of those accidents could have been prevented. Driver distraction is a completely preventable problem, and yet it accounts for dozens of deaths in our state every year.
Common Driving Distractions
Any activity that takes a person’s concentration away from the road can be considered a driver distraction. Some of the most common driving distractions that contribute to Harrisburg car accidents are as follows:
- Texting
- Talking on a cell phone (handheld or hands-free)
- Using a smartphone for any other reason (checking email, news, weather or social media)
- Watching a video
- Using a navigation system
- Adjusting the radio, CD player or MP3 player
- Eating or drinking
- Grooming
- Reading, including a map
- Talking to passengers
How You Can Help
Did you find this article helpful? We encourage you to share this article with your friends and family—it could help save a life. If you or someone you love has been the victim of a Harrisburg car accident due to driver distraction, you may be eligible for compensation. We invite you to contact us directly to schedule your free consultation.
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