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What Constitutes Distracted Driving?

Distracted Driving
It Can Wait

Driving Your Car Safely


If you live in West Texas, you are pretty much used to driving long distances to get where you need to go. In a state as large as Texas, unless you live in a metropolitan area, you will do so much driving that you inevitably lose sight of how dangerous it can be. While there are many factors that lead to wrecks, distracted driving is quickly growing as one of the leading causes of automotive collisions. 

What Constitutes Distracted Driving?

The answer tot hat question is complex and simple all at once. Basically, anything that takes your eyes or attention off the road for an extended period could be considered a distraction. If you are eating or drinking, smoking, using GPS or a cellphone, or even fiddling with the radio, you are distracting yourself from the road. Rubbernecking is another form of distraction, as well. Even though there are so many different forms of distracted driving, one stands out above all others; cellphone usage. 

The Advent of Widespread Cellphone Usage and Driving

Nowadays, most people have a cellphone of some sort and a lot of people still don't care about the risks of using one when you are driving. Between 2014 and 2015, cases of distracted driving car accidents rose 9%. Also, since 2011, car insurance premiums have risen 16% and experts project that they will continue to rise until the problem is addressed correctly. What people don't usually take into account is how far you can travel in the time it takes you to look at and read a text. Sure, people, say that it doesn't distract them and they only look away for a few seconds. However, if you are traveling 55 MPH and you look down at a text for five seconds, how long do you think you are looking down at your screen? The answer is that you will have traveled the length of a football field in that same 5-second time frame. Some people may think that isn't a big deal. I bet if you decided to cover their eyes for five seconds when they are driving, they wouldn't take to kindly to that action. So, you need to ask yourself, do you want to intermittently drive blindfolded? If the answer is no, maybe put your phone in airplane mode and drive safer. 

Abilene Used Car Dealership


As safe as you want to be when you drive, not everyone else on the road may share your same concern with safety. Hopefully, if you need a new vehicle, it's not because you've been in an accident. If you are in the market for a car, truck, or SUV, Williams Group Auto is a great place to find affordable and reliable used vehicles for sale in Abilene, Texas. With several locations around town, and a vast, unique inventory, you will find a ride that suits your needs perfectly! 

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