Fort Pierce Distracted Driving and the Holiday Season
Fort Pierce and the entire Sunshine State is a wonderful place to be during the holiday season. This is a time where there’s an increase in traffic as people travel to and from to visit family, go shopping and engage in the holiday festivities. Sholtes Law wants to keep everyone happy and safe this holiday season. So, here are some tips to avoid distracted driving below.
What is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is any form of driving that takes the driver’s mind off of the primary task – driving. This means focusing, keeping an eye on the road, being alert and aware to surroundings, and listening.
When a driver is distracted, the brain is scattered, trying to focus on other things in addition to driving. Think about how people use a navigation system, eat food in the car, put on makeup and talk to other passengers. These are all forms of distracted driving.
Distracted driving is heightened during the holiday season and makes roads, parking lots, and residential areas more dangerous. Below are some ways people participate in distracted driving:
Drunk Driving
Just don’t do it. According to the statistics from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol-impaired driving accidents accounted for 9,967 deaths in 2014. Just imagine how many of these accidents occur from November to January.
In the event that you do want to indulge in alcoholic activities, choose a designated driver prior to drinking. Keep your drinking to no more than one drink per hour to keep the effect on the brain a minimum and drink water or non-alcoholic drinks in between. Alcohol can have lasting effects on the brain, even after you’ve stopped drinking.
Texting and Talking on the Phone and Driving
We just wanted to send another reminder that if you text and drive, you will get pulled over in Fort Pierce. The consequences are:
- $30 fine for the first offense
- $60 fine and 3 points added to the driver’s driving record for the second offense
The State of Florida banned texting while driving in July 2019. This law is meant to improve highway safety for all – drivers, passengers, bike riders, and pedestrians. Make sure you are playing it safe by putting the phone down and focusing on the road this holiday season and any other day.
Driving Tired
When a driver is sleepy or tired and is managing to drive to his or her desired location, they are putting themselves in danger. This is because the brain and reflexes are not operating at its best potential for driving. Save the long drive for after you’ve had some time to sleep and relax.
Are You Suffering from an Injury Due to Distracted Driving in the Fort Pierce? Call Sholtes Law.
If you received an injury over the holidays because of a distracted driver, contact Andrew Sholtes, a Fort Pierce distracted driving attorney serving St. Lucie & Martin County at Sholtes Law, PLLC. Our firm’s foundation is personal injury law and we work hard to protect the interests of the Fort Pierce community members. Call us for a complimentary case analysis at 855-534-2509.
Resource:
niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-facts-and-statistics
