The Instagram users who brag about distracted driving

Given how much of a crisis distracted driving is in this country, it probably should not be surprising that the hashtag #drivingselfie exists on Instagram. But it is still shocking to us that there are so many Instagram users who not only drive while distracted on a regular basis, but that they actually want their followers to witness their reckless and selfish behavior.

According to Thrillist, a study of Instagram by the Auto Insurance Center found that distracted driving selfies have become increasingly popular on the photo-sharing site. Pictures taken by motorists while driving, tagged with hashtags like #drivingselfie, #hopeidontcrash and #drivingtoschool. The study found that the number of such posts jumped 80 percent from 2014 to 2015, and is set to go up again this year.

The study included a map showing where drivers were most likely to post a distracted driving selfie. New York was not among the worst offenders, but had more proud distracted drivers per capita than neighboring states like Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.

Some readers might be wondering if taking a picture while driving is really that dangerous. AAA says that taking a selfie on your phone requires you to take your eyes off the road for at least two seconds. If you are on the highway, your car travels about the length of two basketball courts in two seconds. In other words, splitting your focus for even a few seconds greatly increases the chances you will crash into someone else.

We know none of our readers are distracted drivers, but they need to be aware that these negligent motorists are out there. If you have been hurt by a distracted driver, you may be able to take legal action to get compensation.