The National Safety Council reports that distracted driving leads to 16 thousand crashes each year. True or False?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
Answer: False
The statement that the National Safety Council (NSC) reports that distracted driving leads to 16,000 crashes each year is incorrect. In reality, the NSC estimates that distracted driving contributes to approximately 1.6 million crashes annually in the United States.
Explanation:
Distracted driving encompasses any activity that diverts attention from driving, including using a mobile phone, eating, adjusting the radio, or conversing with passengers. The NSC has conducted extensive research on this issue and found that:
- Cell phone use while driving is a significant contributor to distracted driving incidents. The NSC reports that approximately 1.6 million crashes each year are attributed to cell phone use while driving.
- Texting while driving is particularly hazardous. The NSC estimates that texting while driving contributes to about 1 million crashes annually.
These statistics highlight the critical need for increased awareness and preventive measures to combat distracted driving. The NSC emphasizes that even hands-free cell phone use can impair a driver’s focus and reaction time, making it a significant safety concern.
In summary, the correct information is that distracted driving leads to approximately 1.6 million crashes each year, not 16,000. This underscores the importance of staying attentive and minimizing distractions while driving to ensure road safety.