[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.phoenixlawteam.com\/blog\/whats-leading-type-distracted-driving-arizona-hint-not-texting\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.phoenixlawteam.com\/blog\/whats-leading-type-distracted-driving-arizona-hint-not-texting\/","headline":"What\u2019s the Leading Type of Distracted Driving in Arizona? Hint: It\u2019s Not Texting","name":"What\u2019s the Leading Type of Distracted Driving in Arizona? Hint: It\u2019s Not Texting","description":"You might be surprised to learn that texting while driving is not the primary cause of thousands of car accidents in Arizona involving distracted driving, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. In fact, texting while driving is halfway down the \u201cother\u201d factors list in a DPS\u00a0news release\u00a0concerning more...","datePublished":"2014-12-16","dateModified":"2024-10-22","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.phoenixlawteam.com\/blog\/author\/phoenixlawteam\/#Person","name":"Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C.","url":"https:\/\/www.phoenixlawteam.com\/blog\/author\/phoenixlawteam\/","identifier":8,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1e4dc39d74dcc876245d4603866817c2b3e4a9be1d45c3ef67992bd821d77cbb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1e4dc39d74dcc876245d4603866817c2b3e4a9be1d45c3ef67992bd821d77cbb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.phoenixlawteam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Mushkatel-robbins-becker-pllc-logo.png","url":"https:\/\/www.phoenixlawteam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Mushkatel-robbins-becker-pllc-logo.png","width":459,"height":157}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.phoenixlawteam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/distracted-driver-about-to-crash-1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.phoenixlawteam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/distracted-driver-about-to-crash-1.jpg","height":218,"width":400},"url":"https:\/\/www.phoenixlawteam.com\/blog\/whats-leading-type-distracted-driving-arizona-hint-not-texting\/","about":["Car Accidents"],"wordCount":530,"keywords":["car accident","distracted driving","texting"],"articleBody":"You might be surprised to learn that texting while driving is not the primary cause of thousands of car accidents in Arizona involving distracted driving, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.In fact, texting while driving is halfway down the \u201cother\u201d factors list in a DPS\u00a0news release\u00a0concerning more than 19,000 traffic stops and 2,400 collisions from January through mid-September 2014 blamed on distracted driving.The DPS says the biggest driver distractions leading to collisions were:Distractions outside of the vehicle (393 crashes)Reaching for objects (238)Cell phone use (167)The other distractors in order from most to least frequent were:Other occupantsOther electronic mediaEating or drinkingTextingPetsReadingGrooming\/makeupSmoking or tobacco use.Interestingly, the\u00a0National Highway Traffic Safety Administration\u00a0states that among the\u00a0many forms of driver distraction, texting while driving was the \u201cmost alarming\u201d because text messaging requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver.Arizona Distracted Driving AccidentsThough in Arizona there are apparently more prominent driver distraction factors than texting-while-driving, the caution about visual, manual, and cognitive distraction is still relevant.Cell phone use was among the top causes of Arizona traffic stops for distracted driving. As the\u00a0Phoenix New Times\u00a0points out, people may have been using Twitter or Facebook (which requires the same attention as texting) to communicate with others.\u201cWe all know that these devices (cell phones) are basically mobile computers \u2026 so there\u2019s a lot more going on,\u201d DPS spokesman Raul Garcia told the newspaper.But it goes further than that. The\u00a0New Times\u00a0report points out yet another study in which cell phone use is the number two cause of driver distraction.The study, an analysis of NHTSA numbers from 2010 and 2011 by Erie Insurance and reported by\u00a0Forbes\u00a0magazine, says most distracted drivers involved in fatal car accidents (62 percent) were \u201cgenerally distracted or \u2018lost in thought\u2019 (daydreaming).\u201d Cell phone use (talking, listening, dialing, texting) \u201ccame in at a distant second\u201d at 12 percent.Other factors causing distracted driving accidents on the list:Paying attention to an outside person, object, or eventInteracting with other vehicle occupantsUsing or reaching for a device in the vehicle, such as a portable GPS system or headphonesEating or drinkingAdjusting audio or climate controlsOperating other in-vehicle devices, such as adjusting the rear view mirrors, seats, or using OEM navigation systemDistraction within the vehicle, such as an insect or unrestrained petSmoking-related (smoking, lighting up, putting ashes in ashtray).Regardless of how or why drivers are distracted, \u201c[D]istracted driving mimics impaired driving behavior and can have deadly consequences. The ability of distracted drivers to perceive danger and successfully avoid common roadway hazards is greatly reduced.\u201d If you have been in an accident in the Phoenix metro area, our\u00a0car accident attorneys\u00a0can help. Contact us today for a consultation to discuss what happened to you.Sources:Arizona Dept. of Public Safety:\u00a0DPS Releases Latest Distracted Driving Enforcement Details for Arizona HighwaysNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration:\u00a0What is Distracted Driving?Phoenix New Times:\u00a0Texting Not Actually a Top Cause of Distracted Driving on Arizona HighwaysForbes:\u00a0Forget Phones Or Fast Food, More Drivers Cause Their Own Distractions In\u00a0Crashes"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.phoenixlawteam.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What\u2019s the Leading Type of Distracted Driving in Arizona? Hint: It\u2019s Not Texting","item":"https:\/\/www.phoenixlawteam.com\/blog\/whats-leading-type-distracted-driving-arizona-hint-not-texting\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]