We know that texting and driving — and any other type of distracted driving — can turn deadly. Every day, accidents take lives all over Nebraska. When a driver looks down at a cellphone for even a split-second, that’s enough of a distraction to cause a catastrophic wreck. No text is short enough to be safe.
And yet, people continue to text and drive every day. Teens face a particularly high rate of risk, especially considering how much time young people spend on their phones. Why do they do it if data clearly shows the danger?
The problem is that many of them simply do not believe in that danger. They do not fully understand the risk that the statistics suggest. In fact, in one study, a mere 35 percent of teens said that they thought texting and driving may take their lives in an auto accident. That just one out of every three teen drivers.
At the same time, the teens showed that the majority of them — more than 50 percent — know that driving while intoxicated could cause a fatal wreck. They understand risk in a more general sense. They simply do not think that texting while driving, despite all the evidence, is as dangerous as drunk driving.
As such, other drivers face serious risks every day from distracted drivers, and the problem persists year after year. If you get involved in a serious car accident, make sure you know what legal rights you have. You may be able to seek out financial compensation for your costs.