Have In-Car Navigation Units Increased Accidents?

In our line of work, we see plenty of car accidents, yet they never cease to be real tragedies.

Still, it is a rare day when the cause of such an accident surprises us, like in the case of Zohra Hussain’s fatal accident a few weeks ago.

After following directions on an outdated GPS at night, her husband drove off a demolished bridge. The car plunged almost 40 feet, trapping and killing her in the ensuing fire. While this horrible tragedy can be seen as a freak accident, GPS systems may cause more accidents than we realize.

Although relatively few accidents are caused by following ill-advised directions to such as extreme, in-car navigation units may be responsible for thousands of accidents every year. In fact, in the United Kingdom alone, in-car GPS devices have caused an estimated 300,000 car accidents. If you consider how many more drivers are on the roads in the United States, it’s terrifying to consider just how much damage these navigation units may have caused.

GPS Devices and Other In-Car Navigation Units May Put You at Risk for Distracted Driving Accidents

So why are in-car navigation units sometimes so dangerous? One important reason is that they are distracting. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), driver distraction plays a role in around 25 to 30 percent of all accidents in the U.S. While obviously using a GPS is not the only distraction you may experience while driving, it is a serious one.

The NHTSA has named navigation units such as GPS as one of the worst in-car electronic device distractions. In fact, they have been singled out as an offender that needs to be changed in order for drivers to use safely. For example, the NHTSA has determined that programming a GPS while driving is more likely to cause an accident than texting while driving (which based on some studies makes you 23 times more likely to crash!).

While the jury may still be out on exactly how distracting GPS use may be while driving, it is clear that you should be aware of the risks and take car while using any in-car navigation unit. Program the GPS before you get on the road, and make sure to keep your eyes on driving as much as possible. If you do end up in an accident that was caused in part by your or another driver’s GPS use, you may have a case to get you additional compensation for the injuries and damage you suffer. Call us right away at Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. at (312) 236-2900 for a free consultation on your case with a Chicago accident attorney, and stay safe using your navigation devices.