Groundbreaking Study Identifies Greatest Crash-Risk Factors

A major study has revealed that distracted driving is both highly prevalent and highly dangerous.

A recently released study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute has quantified both the risk and the prevalence of various dangerous driving behaviors, according to Medical Xpress. The groundbreaking study involved 3,500 participants and data taken from 1,600 verified motor vehicle accidents to create one of the most accurate pictures yet available for determining what driving behaviors are most likely to lead to an accident. Perhaps not surprisingly, the study found that distracted driving, especially distracted driving caused by cellphone use, was highly prevalent and also significantly increased the likelihood of a crash occurring.

Largest Study Into Crash Risks

The study is the largest ever conducted to use real-world driving data. Other studies have tended to rely on indirect sources of information, such as police reports and witness testimony, which can be unreliable for determining what actually led to an accident. Other studies have relied on driving simulators, which do not always give an accurate picture of driving behavior since participants are aware that they are not actually in a real-world situation.

For this study, participants' driving behavior was monitored for between one to two years using a variety of instruments, including cameras, sensors, and radars. Because there were 3,500 participants, researchers had a large mountain of data from which they could base their conclusions about which driving behaviors were the riskiest.

Impaired and Distracted Driving

As Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Spectrum notes, certain driving behaviors stood out for being extremely dangerous. Not surprisingly, impaired driving increased the risk of a crash occurring (compared with someone who was driving while sober, rested, and alert) by nearly 36 times, more than any other risk factor. Reading and writing (such as on tablets) and strong emotions while driving were also incredibly risky, increasing the chances of an accident happening by nearly 10 times.

However, while impairment, reading, writing, and emotion were all considered highly dangerous, they were also relatively rare driving behaviors. Impaired driving, for example, occurred in only 0.08 percent of cases studied. The riskiest behavior, in terms of combining both crash-risk with prevalence, was using a handheld cellphone while driving, which not only increased the risk of a crash happening by 3.6 times but was also a factor in 6.4 percent of cases studied. Furthermore, the data revealed that drivers were distracted - including by other factors such as changing the radio, eating, talking to passengers, and so on - during 52 percent of observed driving time. The findings suggest that distracted driving is not only far more prevalent than was previously believed, but also far more dangerous.

Personal Injury Law

With so many distracted and dangerous drivers on the road, it is more important than ever before to stay safe. When an accident does happen, however, victims should know that they have somebody they can turn to for help. A personal injury attorney can assist accident victims, including by helping them file any claims for compensation to which they may be entitled.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
Shawn Collins is a very talented lawyer, as are all the attorneys on his team. I've known and worked with Shawn for more that 30 years. Not only is he a top notch technical litigator but his communication skills are second to none. If anyone I know is ever in need of an attorney, Shawn is my very first recommendation. He gives very solid advice that goes beyond the law. He is someone you can trust to tell you the truth so you are not lead astray in the complex legal world. You really can't find a better advocate. E.M.
★★★★★
We were incredibly satisfied with our experience with The Collins Law Firm. We worked closely with Ed Manzke and found that he had a personal touch and truly got to know us in addition to being knowledgeable and effective in his field. The caring and individual attitude helped us tremendously throughout the entire process and we always felt like our case was in safe hands. We would highly recommend The Collins Law Firm for both its stellar work and dedicated employees. M.A.
★★★★★
My father recommended The Collins Law Firm to me after watching Shawn Collins and Ed Manzke at trial representing Lisle residents against Lockformer. For years, he told us courtroom tales about Shawn and Ed, citing their incredible skill as trial lawyers and how they put the huge Lockformer legal team to shame. So when my son was the victim of a wrongful death, they were my first and only choice. I can't say enough to truly express how grateful I am to The Collin's Law Firm for all that they did for me and my family. This amazing team advocated for me in my darkest moments, surpassing my expectations in every way. I will be forever grateful to Shawn and Ed. K.D.
★★★★★
I have worked with Rob, Shawn and The Collins Law Firm team in connection with both complex business transactions and litigation over the past several years. Shawn is far and away the best business litigation attorney I have worked with. Rob has been our lead attorney on M&A and corporate restructures, and he has delivered each time, and on time. I would highly recommend Rob to get the deal done! W.D.
★★★★★
Rob has been our out-side General Counsel for ten years. As a business with a global presence, it is important that we have the very best legal representation. Rob and the team have guided us through litigation battles, negotiating and drafting our important business contracts, and advising us in our business strategies. He has a great team of lawyers working with him. M.F.