Are Our North Carolina Auto Accident Prevention Strategies Backfiring, Big Time?
One can make a compelling argument that our North Carolina auto accident prevention methods are working – or at least getting passable results. Decades ago, for instance, the National Highway Traffic & Safety Administration routinely recorded annually deaths on U.S. roads of 40,000 plus. Today, that stat’s down to around 30,000 deaths a year. Still not an ideal figure, obviously, but it’s a significant improvement. To what extent can we attribute the decrease in fatalities to our safety policies? To what extent can we attribute it to other factors, such as improvements in automotive technology (e.g. anti-lock brakes, ABS technology, etc)?
Our focus on seatbelt compliance clearly has had an effect, as has our campaign to reduce driving under the influence. However, new dangers have cropped up – such as cell phone use behind the wheel. Also, the population has gotten more obese and diabetic. One can at least begin to make the argument that our collective increase in metabolic problems is contributing to our bad driving.
On the positive side, some programs obviously do work. Not to be overly self-serving, but Michael A. DeMayo’s Arrive Alive program has been hugely helpful.
All that said, some conventional wisdom about how to prevent accidents – and to reduce the severity/intensity of accidents that do occur – is likely misguided.
Safety campaigns may miss the forest for the trees… or even send people in the wrong direction altogether. Consider the following. We all know that cell phone use – text messaging, in particular – increases accident risk. But this turns out to be true, whether or not you use a hands-free headset. The distraction ITSELF is the real danger, not necessarily the fact that you’re fiddling with a device.
Thus, advice to the effect of “use a hands-free headset when you chat on a phone in your car” may be counterproductive, in that it gives people a false sense of safety. We should be giving across the board recommendations to cease and desist cell phone use while behind the wheel.
If someone you care about was hurt in a car accident in North Carolina, the team here at the Law Offices of Michael A. DeMayo would love to help you understand your options and pursue justice. Connect with us today for a free case evaluation now.
