You probably know that alcohol addiction leads to drunk driving. There are plenty of people who, when they get a DUI or get involved in an accident, admit that they knew what they did was dangerous but that they couldn’t help it. They were addicted to drinking and it caught up with them.
Interestingly, the same thing can be said about distracted driving, particularly as it pertains to cellphone use. Most drivers know that using a phone while driving is not safe. This applies to everything they can do — calling, browsing social media, checking their email, taking a video, etc. Perhaps the most dangerous and most common activity is texting and driving.
What we need to understand is that phones are deliberately designed to be addicting, just like cigarettes, and that addiction is a real issue that people face. It’s not just that they like using the phone or that they think they can do it safely. It’s that they’re actually addicted to the device and find it impossible not to look at it, especially on a long drive. They need that fix.
It’s all about rewards. For your brain, some of those phone notifications — that someone liked your photo, for instance — can give you the same reward as accomplishing a goal. It’s fulfilling but, at the same time, it makes you want more. That’s why you can’t wait when the notification buzzes. You have to know who liked the picture, even if you’re driving.
Phone addiction can cause serious accidents. Those who suffer injuries in these accidents must know what legal options they have. It isn’t fair that you should have to bear the financial burden of someone else’s mistake.
