A recently released study from an auto insurance company reveals that motorists in South Carolina and around the country who routinely use their cellphones while driving are quick to criticize others for doing the same thing. The study, which was conducted by a research firm in Virginia on behalf of Root Insurance, discovered that American drivers use their smartphones while behind the wheel for approximately 13 minutes each day. However, 89% of the motorists polled claimed that they would give an Uber or Lyft driver a poor rating for behaving in the same way.
Prior research into the problem of distracted driving suggests that this cognitive dissonance is largely the product of the inflated view that most drivers have of their skills. When asked to compare their driving abilities to Uber or Lyft operators, 90% told researchers that they were safer and more talented drivers. This could explain why almost 40% of the motorists polled said that they continue to use their phones even when they notice a police car.
The study also reveals that a worrying number of drivers use their smartphones in extremely distracting ways. More than half of the respondents claimed that they routinely engage in text or email exchanges with multiple people, and a third confessed to using smartphones to access social media. This kind of behavior is particularly worrying to road safety advocates because it causes drivers to look away from surrounding traffic.
Distracted drivers often have difficulty taking evasive action before crashing, which is why the car accidents they cause often result in catastrophic injuries. When pursuing compensation for a road user badly hurt by a distracted driver, an experienced personal injury attorney may consult with medical experts to ensure that the damages they seek are sufficient to cover the costs of long-term medical care and physical therapy.