The National Safety Council declared April 2014 "Distracted Driving Awareness Month," to encourage motorists to avoid dangerous driving habits. According to research, thousands of people die in distracted driving traffic accidents every year. Texting and cell phone use are two of the primary forms of distraction connected to these fatalities.

In the next month, the safety council wants to encourage drivers to fight distracted driving in the following ways:

• Stop using mobile phones behind the wheel
• Acknowledge "hands-free" devices as a serious distraction
• Learn about cognitive distraction and the dangers associated with it
• Raise awareness for distracted driving

Distracted driving isn't a new threat to the safety of American motorists. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted drivers caused over 5,000 deaths in 2009 alone. Five years later, the NHTSA describes distracted driving as an "epidemic" that jeopardizes the lives of motorists across the nation.

In the past, the NHTSA and other organizations focused on handheld cell phone use (especially texting) as one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving. This year, the safety council introduced a new campaign: hands-free is not risk-free.

According to recent studies, hands-free texting can be just as dangerous as manually using a cell phone. In a recent study conducted by the Texas A&M University showed that drivers who use voice-activated texting actually look away from the road just as often as drivers who pick up the phone and text.

In an effort to raise awareness, law enforcement plans to crack down on distracted drivers for the month of April. Texas legislature has issued a ban on all texting while driving for young drivers and bus drivers. Additionally, motorists are not allowed to use handheld phones in school zones.

Distracted Driving Accidents

Distracted driving accidents don't always lead to a fatality. In addition to thousands of deaths, cell phones and other distractions cause a multitude of car accidents and injuries every year as well. If you suffered a serious injury in a Houston traffic accident caused by a distracted driver, you may have the right to financial compensation.

Contact an attorney from The Daspit Law Firm today for more information.