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The Dangers of Distracted Driving

You’d never think of drinking and driving, but what about talking on a cell phone while driving? It might surprise you that a conversation on a cell phone slows reaction time as much as driving with a blood alcohol level of .08%.

You’d never think of drinking and driving, but what about talking on a cell phone while driving? It might surprise you that a conversation on a cell phone slows reaction time as much as driving with a blood alcohol level of .08%. In fact, some studies showed that talking on a cell phone resulted in even more accidents than drunk driving. As Americans drive twice as many miles per year as we did in 1980, it seems the distractions are growing exponentially while becoming even more hazardous.

Cell phones might be the most notorious culprits, but you might be surprised how dangerous kids, pets, makeup, and even your morning cup of coffee can be. When it comes to insurance, tickets for “careless” or “reckless” driving can really hurt, not to mention they’ll make your premiums inflate as well. Careless driving could cause your car insurance to jump by 16% while reckless driving tickets cause rates to go up more than a first-time DUI. Do your part to stay informed on the dangers of distracted driving to protect others and yourself.

Ten traffic accidents occur every second. Of the ten, approximately eight are caused by distracted driving. While cell phones are the most notorious distraction, your seemingly innocent cargo is more dangerous than you think. Check out these statistics:

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During a 30-minute commute, the average driver plays music for 21 minutes.A car radio can easily reach 95 decibels, the same volume as a noisy lawn mower. This sound level regularly causes hearing          damage and reaction time slows 20%.
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8% of parents said they had caused an accident because of a crying child.The average parent takes their eyes off the road for a staggering 3 minutes and 22 seconds during a 16-min trip.
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82% of pets ride in cars, often unrestrained.In a 55-mph crash, a 20-pound dog yields a crash force of 1100 pounds — the weight of an adult cow.
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More than 8 in 10 people eat or drink while driving.While taking a drink, drivers were 18% more likely to swerve into a neighboring lane.The most dangerous item: Coffee.

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In a simulation, cell phone talkers got in more accidents than those driving drunk.It’s no wonder — talking on a cell phone, even hands-free, slows reaction time by 26%
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One text takes a driver's eyes off the road for about 4.6 seconds:At 55-mph, that’s like driving an entire football field blindfolded. If this results in reckless driving, insurance rates go up more than a first-time DWI.
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Women applying makeup while driving cause 500,000 crashes every year in the U.K.If ticketed for “careless driving,” you could see car insurance jump by 16% — roughly $220/year.
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Of those who own a GPS, 41% set it while the car is in motion.In California, it’s even illegal to check smartphone maps. If you do, it could result in a $160 ticket.
Isn't this absolutely amazing? This information was originally on InsuranceQuotes.org. Add the above to the pile of things that are already running through one's mind from "Are the kids ok?" to "What am I going to make for supper?". Not only can a person drive safer, you can possibly save money from potential fines and higher insurance rates.