It is easy to highlight drunk driving as the only type of impaired driving, making highways dangerous for drivers, but that is not the case. There are several kinds of reckless driving choices made every day, and they all have real-world consequences. The following are a few examples worth noting.
Drunk Driving
This is one of the most known types of impaired driving. It is estimated that about 29 people die every day due to drunk driving. There is no doubt that driving and drinking do not mix, yet the issue still lives, causing many deaths in car accidents.
According to Dmvedu Traffic School, Incidents involving alcohol have decreased over the last few years, but that does not mean no work is needed. Laws continue to evolve in an attempt to deal with this problem, like increasing fines when drivers are caught driving under the influence. The private sector is also stepping in, with services such as Low Cost Interlock making it affordable to modify a vehicle to prevent a person from operating it while under the influence.
Texting
Car accidents can be linked to texting and driving as well. One out of four car accidents is caused by this habit, which means approximately 330,000 accidents could be prevented each year. Police officers are definitely attempting to do their part by creating laws to punish those who text and drive, but the issue is quite personal. You must decide to turn off your smartphone, or download apps that stop you from using the device while driving.
Hands-Free Talking & Driving
Some people think it is safer to use a hands-free option when talking on the phone. This notion usually comes from the fact that the driver does not remove his or her eyes from the road. You might think this makes it safer to call someone or receive calls while driving, but that is a fallacy. In 2013, it is estimated that around 1.2 million car crashes were linked to drivers who were talking on their hands-free phone. You can see that this way of talking is still as dangerous as any other type of impaired driving.
Green Influence
Another type of impaired driving worth pointing out is driving under the influence of marijuana. More and more people are beginning to use this plant since it became legal in several states. People under the influence of this drug should not drive because it increases the risk of an accident. The risk is not as bad as driving under the influence of alcohol, but this does not mean you are free to use marijuana because it is still dangerous. The laws regarding driving and marijuana are still changing, meaning that getting a ticket for it might only be the beginning of the consequences.
All of these forms of impaired driving are dangerous, so it is important to avoid doing these and also prevent others from doing them. Keep in mind that impaired driving is just one type of dangerous driving one can engage in. For example, fatigue could also make driving dangerous. If driving, it may also be an inevitable aspect of traveling abroad if road directions and driver side are reversed and street signs are in an unfamiliar language. You can talk to a police officer to get more auto safety tips to keep you and your family safer while driving.