Distracted driving: Pay attention or pay the price

At any given moment of the day, approximately 660,000 drivers are attempting to use a cell phone while behind the wheel of a car. Distracted drivers are responsible for about 2.5 million car crashes every year, causing more than 1,000 injuries per day, despite the fact that this negligence is entirely preventable. Lakeview Regional’s upcoming “House Calls” podcast will address the dangers of distracted driving and will review the Louisiana laws around texting and driving and use of hands-free devices.

“Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for five seconds, and at 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed,” said Jenny Gensler, host of “House Calls.” “This podcast, entitled ‘5 Seconds at 55 MPH,’ will open your eyes to the very real dangers we all face while behind the wheel of a car. We’re all guilty at times, and this episode gets us back on track and helps us all make safer choices. It’s also great food for thought for parents of teen drivers.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, teen drivers are four times more likely than adults to get into car crashes or near-crashes when talking or texting on a cell phone, and sadly, car crashes remain the leading cause of death among teens in the United States.

Distracted driving is any activity that takes the driver’s attention away from driving. Distracted driving includes cell phone use and other activities such as eating, talking to other passengers and adjusting the radio, climate controls or navigation system. The three main types of distracted driving include, taking your eyes off the road, taking your hands off the wheel and taking your mind off driving.

House Calls is an ongoing series of conversations addressing topics that are relevant to all of us, such as health insurance, smoking cessation, heart health, distracted driving, do-it-yourself project safety, and more. Listen to the podcasts here.