Most drivers in America are aware of the dangers involved in using a cellphone while behind the wheel. Yet, many continue to engage in this risky behavior despite warnings of its deadly effects. In 2017, more than 3,100 people were killed in accidents involving distracted drivers and thousands more were injured. If using a hand-held cellphone is not hazardous enough, a surprising number of people take selfies while driving then continue to post them on social media sites. All of this causes three types of distractions: visual, manual and cognitive.
To take a selfie, drivers must take their hands off the wheel and eyes off the road to pose for the perfect pic. Furthermore, drivers take their focus off the road in order to concentrate on the task at hand. Once a pic is taken, drivers may upload their pic onto a social media platform and update their status. The fact that this occurs while a person is driving may seem crazy. Unfortunately, people who do this put their lives and the lives of others at risk.
According to AutoInsurance, cell phone use was involved in at least 25% of car accidents in the U.S., with 30% dialing, 23% talking and 47% texting or using an app while driving. With a search under #drivingtowork #drivingselfies and #drivingselfie on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter, there are more than 70,000 posts of people doing just that. A number of snapshots chart the last moment before the driver is involved in a deadly car accident. The safest way to drive is to not use a cellphone at all.
