As holiday travelers make it to and from their destinations, Iowa and Illinois state patrol are on the lookout for not only speeders, but also impaired and distracted drivers that can make traveling unsafe.
Nearly one third of all car accidents can be traced back to speeding. Tens of thousands are injured every year in speeding related accidents and thousands are killed. Maintaining the posted speed while adjusting for conditions such as weather, heavy traffic and the like keep all travelers safer because it is simply easier to safely control of a vehicle if something unexpected occurs.
Roughly 30 percent of traffic related deaths annually are attributed to impair driving, which may include alcohol and drugs (both legal and illegal). Drunk driving and drug impaired driving are involved in just under 20 percent of all motor vehicle crashes with many occurring around the holiday season.
Distracted driving – looking at something other than the road; hearing something not related to driving; manipulating something other than the steering wheel; or thinking about seeming other than driving – is one of the leading causes of traffic accidents particularly in an age when everyone seems to be on their phones. Testing while driving increases the risk of a car crash or near crash, taking the drivers eyes of the road for an average of 23 seconds per text. In a matter of seconds things can go very wrong.
With the long weekend wrapping up, many are preparing for the journey home. State troopers are advising driers to keep speeds down, limit distractions, and not to drive impaired to make the ride home safer.
Davenport car accident lawyers of McDonald, Woodward & Carlson serve clients throughout the Quad Cities area. Our firm focuses on the areas of personal injury and wrongful death. Contact us online or call 563-355-6478 for a consultation with our attorneys.