The advent of smartphones has made life both simpler and more complicated for people around the world. Information is now readily available with just a push of a button on these hand-held computers. However, in this age of instant gratification, people have also become somewhat addicted to their cellular devices, even when they should be focusing on other important tasks, such as driving.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines distracted driving as any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting, eating and drinking, and even fiddling with the radio or navigation system. In 2015, 3,477 people were killed and 391,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers, per the NHTSA. Additionally, the agency reported that during daylight hours, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cellphones while driving. This presents an enormous risk for accidents and injuries, especially for service companies, like HVAC contractors, whose employees spend much of their time on the road traveling to and from job sites.