How GPS Distraction Leads to Uber Crashes

My Uber Driver Crashed While Looking At Their Phone

Smart phones have untold numbers of uses, and just about every driver has one with them every time they get behind the wheel of a car. For Uber and Lyft drivers, they are a requirement in order to tap into their respective ridesharing apps. Smartphone use, unfortunately, does not stop once the driver picks up their passenger; rideshare drivers seem to spend half their time looking down at their phones, either in their hand or mounted on their dashboard or window, looking at directions or typing in addresses. If you were injured by a distracted Uber or Lyft driver, you deserve to be compensated for your injuries.

Why GPS is So Distracting

The modern driver is so clueless as to what is considered distracted or risky behavior, and what is not, an Allstate survey found the following, according to Market Watch:

• Of drivers who identified as being “rarely distracted”, 59 percent reported that they talk on the phone while driving, and 77 percent reported using GPS or route finding apps.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggests that 20 to 30 percent of collisions involve some sort of distraction, though distracted driving reporting is most likely low. Texting, talking on the phone, checking email, changing the radio, spilling coffee, and reaching for fallen objects are all common types of driver distraction. Punching in GPS coordinates (using google maps or another app) or simply following visual and/or audio directions is another source of serious distraction, and one that is difficult to avoid for rideshare drivers who are not as familiar with the area (unlike typical cab drivers) as they maybe should be in order to perform their job. GPS or following map directions causes distraction in up to four ways:

• Visual distraction when the driver takes their eyes off the road;
• Manual or physical distraction when the driver punches in an address, holds, or otherwise manipulates their phone or GPS system;
• Mental distraction caused when the driver’s mind leaves the road and follows directions given by their phone; and
• Audio distraction, which is another form of mental distraction, when the phone gives voice directions.

GPS is Not Only Distracting, But Can Lead Drivers Into Making Bad Decisions

A study in the UK found that GPS caused 300,000 crashes, according to Wired. While distraction is likely the most common cause of collision caused by using GPS, blindly following directions can also lead to:

• Drivers going the wrong way down one-way streets;
• Drivers making illegal turns;
• Speeding;
• Illegal U-turns;
• Swerving or changing lanes last second to make a turn when the GPS system re-routes; and
• Other irrational acts that the driver would not make otherwise.

Call a San Jose GPS Distracted Driving Collision Attorney Today 

In the event of a collision caused by a distracted Uber or Lyft driver who you suspect caused the crash because they were too engaged in their phone or GPS device, call the San Jose distracted driving accident attorneys at the Solution Now Law Firm.  Call us today to schedule a free case evaluation.