Steps to Take If You Spot a Distracted Driver in Rhode Island

Although it’s clear that distracted driving has many different negative implications for other individuals on the road as well as bicyclists and pedestrians, it’s still a behavior that’s relatively persistent. According to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association, texting, and other electronic phone usage can contribute to up to one-quarter of all car crashes. This means that almost 5,500 car related deaths can be attributed directly to distracted driving, as shared by a 2009 study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Those individuals who choose to text and drive behind the wheel of a car are 23 times more likely to be involved in a car accident. If you spot a driver engaging in texting and driving, it’s in your best interests to avoid interactions with this driver and report it to the police. Using your smartphone and texting is a form of distracted driving. Many of the warning signs of someone texting and driving behind the wheel are the same as those for a fatigued or drunken driver. Those warning signs include:

• Drivers weaving through traffic
• Drivers struggling to maintain lane position
• Drivers who change speed for no reason
• Drivers who stay for longer than necessary at a traffic sign or light
• Drivers going much slower than the flow of traffic or speed limit
• Drivers going much faster than the flow of traffic or speed limit

There are several different steps you can take in the event that you’re sharing the road with someone who is texting and driving or engaging in another form of distracted driving. These include:

• Giving that driver a wide berth
• Assume that that driver doesn’t see your car at all
• Contact the police
• Try to pull ahead of the distracted driver or slow down and allow them to pull ahead instead

Being vigilant can help to minimize the chances of being involved in a serious Rhode Island car accident. If you have already been injured in an accident, you need an attorney who can represent your interests to the fullest and help you recover effectively by fighting for compensation. Contact an experienced Rhode Island car accident attorney if this applies to you.