Paying attention behind the wheel is important for safety, but not everyone takes the matter as serious as they should. You have probably noticed that a lot of drivers seem glued to their phones or may participate in other types of dangerous behaviors. Anyone can be a distracted driver, and this is a scary thought. However, some adults are more likely to drive distracted than others.
Compared with baby boomers and Gen Xers, millennials are much more likely to engage in at least one distracted driving behavior. This generation’s distracted driving habits tend to involve smartphones. It is not just all texting, either.
What are millennials doing with their smartphones?
Liberty Mutual Insurance recently completed a study that looked at distracted driving behaviors in the United States as well as parts of Europe. Worldwide, millennials are most likely to use smartphones behind the wheel. However, U.S. millennials are far more likely to use their smartphones while driving than any other group.
According to the study, 86% of American millennial drivers admit to using smartphones when they should be paying attention to the road. Since this is self-reported information, it is possible that even more millennials are using their phones when they should not. These smartphone behaviors include things like:
- Phone conversations
- Texting or emailing
- Using social media apps
Other types of distracted driving
Distracted driving is more than just using a cell phone. Anything that takes your attention off the road is a distracting behavior. It may come as no surprise that millennials lead the way again when it comes to dealing with distractions while driving.
The same study found that 63% of millennials admit that they multi-task when driving. These young adults often think that it is a good idea to engage in daily activities in the car. Applying makeup and eating are just two examples of this.
Speeding is a problem, too.
In America, 51% of drivers in all age groups admit to regularly speeding. Drivers often blame speeding on outside factors, such as running late. Another 23% said they do not stop at stop signs if short on time. The combination of distracted driving and speeding is particularly dangerous. Since distracted drivers may not brake as fast as they should, or even at all, speeding can make an accident much more serious.
You do your best to be a safe driver, but you cannot avoid all of the distracted drivers on the road. If a driver who was looking at his or her phone caused your accident, you deserve help for your injuries. A successfully pursued personal injury claim can help you get compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and even more. If you need help figuring out your options, you should consider speaking with an experienced Pennsylvania lawyer.