What may seem like harmless fun can often take a turn for the worst when it takes place on the roadways. A simple distraction while behind the steering wheel, such as thinking about what needs to be bought at the grocery store or even turning around to speak to a person in the backseat, can take the driver’s mind and eyes off the road for an unacceptable amount of time and turn their car into a dangerous weapon.
A new distraction has taken shape after social media users began posting videos of them dancing to the song ‘In My Feelings’ on social media. While many people are dancing in safe locations, some began to follow a comedian’s take on the challenge and began dancing in the middle of the road. As Louisiana residents can imagine, jumping out of a moving vehicle to dance can be extremely dangerous. In many instances, the person who is making the video is the driver, further taking their attention from the road.
The National Transportation Safety Board, who issued a warning regarding the dangers of distracted driving, is taking the hazardous turn of mindless fun seriously. In their warning, they asked drivers not to jump out of moving cars for a meme, since it is a foolish act. Not only is the action foolish and dangerous, it could also be illegal and lead to serious injuries.
More than 37,000 people die in car accidents annually and almost all of these deaths could have been prevented. Drivers have a responsibility to others on the road, which means they need to be driving sober, without any distractions and following the rules of the road. Those who abandon their responsibility could be held responsible through a personal injury lawsuit.
