Distracted Driving a Common Cause of Car Accidents in Modesto and Stockton

 On the one-year anniversary of the launch of FocusDriven, a national non-profit that advocates for victims of distracted driving, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood promised to keep distracted driving "at the top of his agenda," the Modesto Bee reports.

"Distracted driving is a deadly epidemic and when it comes to road safety, we will not take a backseat to anyone," said LaHood. "That's why distracted driving will continue to be a major part of DOT's robust safety agenda."

With an annual estimate of 5,500 motorist killed in car accidents linked to distracted driving and another 500,000 left injured, Modesto car accident lawyers understand the risks motorists face each day as a result of careless drivers.

California, along with 29 other states and Washington D.C., has banned texting for all drivers. State lawmakers have also banned use of a hand-held device for all drivers. https://askcompetentlawyer.com/ The law further prohibits school or transit bus drivers, and drivers aged 18 and younger, from using cell phones while behind the wheel.

But the California Department of Motor Vehiclesfrequently reminds motorists that cell phones and iPods are not the only distractions a driver faces. Distractions can be visual, cognitive or manual. Eating while driving, for example, is a particularly hazardous distraction that most all drivers engage in from time to time. Unwrapping of packaging, the chow down and the clean up may only take seconds, but in two seconds a car can travel anywhere from 50 to 100 feet or more.

Chatting it up with your fellow passengers, giving the family pet some attention, putting on makeup, adjusting vehicle controls and gawking at an accident, a billboard or a scenic part of your trip are all common daily occurrences that can, literally, drive you to distraction and put you, your passengers and other drivers at risk.