Driving and Social Media Addiction is a Dangerous Distraction

It is no secret that billions of people are active on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The addiction to these services and the constant stream of content is an argument for another day. When browsing while driving becomes a habit, that’s when the situation gets really dangerous.

Speaking on a cell phone and texting are two of the most common causes of car accidents by distracted drivers. However, browsing social media is problematic for similar reasons. There is no doubt that reading online content while driving is a significant distraction that causes a driver to take his or her eyes off the road. When you break it down, there are several reasons that drivers shouldn’t consume social media content while behind the wheel. Here are the two most crucial.

Broken Concentration

The most obvious distraction from browsing social media while driving is the lack of focus on surroundings. Reading and processing information takes over some of the cognitive functions that are required for safe and effective driving. Some posts may take a minute or more to read, which represents a dangerous amount of time not focusing completely the road.

Typing Posts or Comments

Logging onto social media sites while driving creates the temptation to engage with friends, pages, groups or readers. If a driver is busy trying to type a post or comment, concentration goes out the window. It only takes a second to miss a hazard that would have otherwise been glaringly obvious and avoidable. The only solution to preventing accidents is to leave social media commentary until you are stationary and parked in a safe place.

If you noticed an at-fault driver was browsing the internet while driving shortly before your accident, the distraction may have been the cause of the collision. Call the legal team at Keith D. Leshine Attorney at Law, LLC for a car accident consultation in Georgia today.