Distracted Drivers Posing Increasing Risk To First Responders

DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – A new report from the National Safety Council finds that 71-percent of drivers admit to using social media on their cell phones while passing the scene of an accident, nearly triple the percentage during regular driving. They admit to texting, taking photo’s, and uploading them. In 2018, forty first responders were killed on the side of the road while tending to accidents, a 60-percent increase from 2017. Matt Zavadsky of Medstar Mobile Healthcare says drivers passing the scene of the accident must be more vigilant and remain off their phones. Sixteen percent of drivers also admit to having come close to hitting emergency vehicles or first responders while passing the scene of an accident.