Distractions make up, along with speeding and alcohol and drug use, the so-called highway accident triangle. In other words, they are the three reasons that appear most frequently as being responsible for claims.
A Línea Directa report reveals that in the last decade there have been 238,000 traffic accidents in which the reports have pointed to some type of distraction as the main trigger not only for the accident, but also for the increase in its harmfulness. In the same period, for this reason, they calculate 30,000 serious injuries and 6,200 deaths.
Distractions, beyond the mobile phone
The Línea Directa report shows that between 2012 and 2021 accidents due to distractions have been significantly reduced, but the fatality has increased by 52% to reach 2.4 deaths per 100 victims.
Those responsible for the study explain that the reason lies in the combination of triggers. “Speed is a factor that significantly aggravates the consequences of distractions; not surprisingly, since 2019, fines for speeding have increased by 26%,” they say.
Although the use of mobile phones behind the wheel is usually the distraction most recognized by drivers, it is not the one that causes the most accidents.
The report “Life in a second. Distractions and accidents on Spanish roads (2012-2021)”, prepared by the Línea Directa Foundation in collaboration with Centro Zaragoza, reveals that 31% of accidents due to distraction are the result of distracted driving. Fatigue (30%), looking around (13%) and interacting with passengers (10%) are positioned behind.
This does not mean that the use of the mobile phone is not frequent, the problem is “the difficulty to pick it up in the crowded”. “The figures speak for themselves: more than 13 million motorists (48%) admit to using it habitually while driving, and 600,000 admit to being addicted,” they add from the Línea Directa Foundation.
This is the accident that occurs due to distraction
To reach these conclusions, the foundation has asked 1,700 drivers who recognize that what the DGT calls the peeping-eye effect, that is, looking at what has happened on the road when a vehicle is stationary, is the main cause of distracted driving. Also manipulate the GPS and read WhatsApp messages.
Driving without paying due attention often leads to rear-end accidents, especially on long straight lines and at traffic lights. Most of these accidents are recorded on interurban roads and during weekends.