There are many statistics and data available detail the most prevalent demographics who are most likely to be involved in an accident. As such, just the knowledge of being in a particular demographic can be a vital component of ways to prevent whiplash. But there are other vital components that need to be observed to reduce the risks of an accident altogether, and thus prevent whiplash. And one of the big causes of accidents is distraction.
For example, a survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of 6,000 drivers showed that between 20% and 30% of 18 to 34 year old people believed that texting while driving is not a problem and does not affect their driving at all! That is a huge number, and quite frightening at the same time.
Within this group of drivers studied, some 718 had been in a crash or involved in a near miss. 6% of these people claimed to have been using a phone at the time, either using it for a phone call, texting or reading emails.
Naturally, with eyes off the road for the duration of these activities, the chances of accident increase greatly. Fortunately, technology is also progressing and there have been apps created to limit phone use while driving by simplifying the interface, and utilizing a great deal of voice commands for both calling and texting.
Moreover, new cars and trucks also come with technology that integrates the phone with the vehicles on board computer which further aid and simplify things to improve safety. As technology advances, these safety features will no doubt become even more easy to use and thus enable the driver to continue with the primary function, to drive.
However, this hands free technology still isn’t without risk. Any time a person is giving attention to anything other than driving, the risk of accident increases, whether it is giving focus to the car’s radio system, or even speaking to a passenger. Even the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reported that voice activated in car technologies “dangerously undermine driver attention”.
So one of the most important ways to prevent whiplash injury and accidents is to be very mindful of these distractions, and if you really need to contact someone or read a text, pull over safely and stop. It’s far better to be safe than sorry.
