Today’s youths are growing up almost as attached to their cell phones, PDA’s, iPod’s and other mobile electronic devices as they were upon birth to an umbilical cord. By the time they learn to drive, they have the habit and won’t let go. The trouble is, driving while calling, texting or checking the Internet can be fatal.
Recent studies show an increase in teen car crash traffic accident fatalities that’s attributable to two things: more driving by teens at night, and more driving by teens while texting or using a cell phone.
In the years between 1999 and 2008, nighttime fatal car crashes with teen drivers rose by 10 per cent. Night driving deaths increased at a lesser rate for older drivers, and driving fatalities overall declined in this time.
A senior research specialist for the Texas Transportation Institute, Bernie Fetts, told the Associated Press that the increased deaths come from a “perfect storm” of key elements. One is driving at night, which is inherently more risky for anybody in any age group. Another is texting or calling while driving, which impacts a person’s ability to focus on driving.
Teens tend to think otherwise, since they know they send text messages with ease. But texting is still a distraction, diverting them from giving their full attention to driving. And momentary inattention while driving can be fatal. Indeed, the yearly toll for drivers calling, emailing or texting is about 6,000 persons dead and 500,000 injured. Were those texts worth it?
Increasingly, Americans are recognizing the dire consequences of calling and texting while driving. So far, 23 states have passed laws banning texting while driving. The national organization FocusDriven was formed to fight distracted driving via cell phones or texting in much the same way Mothers Against Drunk Driving was formed to fight DUI accidents.
Oprah Winfrey of talk show fame also has created her own response to the car carnage: a “No Phone Zone” pledge for teens to sign. Those who sign promise not to text or use their cell phone while they are driving.
Jim S. Adler & Associates strongly endorses such safe driving initiatives and exhorts all drivers of all ages to save their phone calls and texts for a proper time – when they aren’t responsible for guiding a multi-ton vehicle through complicated traffic at often high speeds. Teens may say such calling and texting won’t be enough to divert them from driving safely, but those who have died in texting car accidents indicate otherwise. Texting car crash accidents occur daily, and your teen’s surprise first time may prove to be their fatal final time.
Jim S. Adler & Associates is a longtime Texas personal injury law firm with offices in San Antonio, Houston, Dallas and Channelview. The law firm offers a free case review and represents victims of car, auto, truck, SUV, motorcycle, bus and other traffic accidents, as well as drunk driving accidents.
Distracted drivers can cause accidents on the road. Truck and bus drivers, that drive commercially, log a lot of hours on the road and use of cell phones while driving is rampant. The Department of Transportation is hoping that a new law helps cut down on the number of accidents by reducing the distractions of drivers.
Just a few weeks ago, a new law was passed prohibiting commercial truck and bus drivers from texting while they are driving. Criminal or civil fines of up $2,750 will be assessed if drivers are caught texting.
The Department of Transportation’s new law will attempt to decrease the use of technology, including cell phones and texting, that is becoming more frequent. Commercial drivers are on the road quite a bit and have dashboard mounted computers as well as cell phones that they use which can sometimes be a distraction if used while driving. The new law hopes to help this. However, it fails to address the use of the dashboard computers, which can also be distracting.
There was a recent Virginia Tech study that showed texting while driving increases the likelihood of an accident by a factor of more than 23 times. Truckers and bus drivers that are texting are required to take their eyes off the road for as long as five seconds at a time.
The new law is an important step towards making the roads safer from distracted drivers.
Distracted drivers on the road can lead to accidents. While it is an important first step to create laws that help protect others on the road, accidents still happen. If you have been injured in a bus or commercial truck accident, it’s a good idea to speak with an injury lawyer about your options.
Being the victim of a truck or bus accident can be a stressful situation. It’s a good idea to speak with NJ injury attorneys about your case. New Jersey injury law firms can help you understand your rights and educate you about your situation.
On December 1st, 2009 Governor Ritter of Colorado signed into law a bill criminalizing text messaging while driving. The new law will make texting and driving a Class A driving infraction.
The Denver Post Article is linked below:
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_12498806 The new law, which will be Colorado State Statute 42-4-239, prohibits use of cellphones for drivers under 18 years of age, and texting for any drivers. The texting language is below: A person eighteen years of age or older shall not use a wireless telephone for the purpose of engaging in text messaging or other similar forms of manual data entry or transmission while operating a motor vehicle.
The law also states that no one under the age of eighteen (18) shall use a cell phone while driving: An operator of a motor vehicle shall no be cited for a violation of subsection (3) of this section unless the operator was eighteen years of age of older and a law enforcement officer saw the operator use a wireless telephone for the purpose of purpose of engaging in text messaging or other similar forms of manual data entry or transmission. (7) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to authorize the seizure and forfeiture of a wireless telephone, unless otherwise provided by law. (8) This section does not restrict operation of an amateur radio station by a person who holds a valid amateur radio operation license issued by the Federal Communications Commission.
The entire statute is here: http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2009a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/349F9CCA2B83CD5087257537001A2BB0?open&file=1094_enr.pdf
The fines and surcharges for violating this statute are:
$ 50.00 Fine Plus a $6.00 Surcharge for a First Offense $100.00 Fine Plus a $6.00 Surcharge for a Second Offense
Joshua McDowell is a Colorado Springs Attorney practicing in DUI, domestic violenceand personal injury matters. As a Colorado Springs Personal Injury lawyer his firm handles car accidents, slip and falls, and other injury matters.
On December 1st, 2009 Gov. Ritter signed into law a bill outlawing text messaging while driving. The new law will make texting and driving a Class A driving infraction. The new law recognizes the inherent danger in texting while driving, however, the law doesn’t go far enough for many proponents of stricter legislation regarding the use of cell phones in vehicles. When the bill was originally introduced it carried language prohibiting the use of cell phones in vehicles unless a hands-free device was used. After meeting opposition from both sides of the aisle over the cell phone usage restrictions, the law will only prohibit drivers under the age of eighteen from using cell phones while driving. As texting is a relatively new phenomenon, there is not significant data on point to show just how dangerous cell phone use (including texting) truly is. As more data emerges on cell phone use and its correlation to car accidents, expect more legislation to arise across the country.
Link to Denver Post Article below:
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_12498806 The new law, which will be Colorado State Statute 42-4-239, prohibits use of cellphones for drivers under 18 years of age, and texting for any drivers. The statute’s language on texting is below:
“A person eighteen years of age or older shall not use a wireless telephone for the purpose of engaging in text messaging or ther similar forms of manual data entry or transmission while operating a motor vehicle.”
The entire statute can be found here: http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2009a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/349F9CCA2B83CD5087257537001A2BB0?open&file=1094_enr.pdf
The applicable fines for violating this statute are:
First Offense: $ 50.00 Fine Plus a $6.00 Surcharge
$100.00 Fine Plus a $6.00 Surcharge for a Second Offense
Josh McDowell is a Colorado Springs Attorney practicing in Criminal defense, domestic violence and DUI cases. His practice also includes Colorado Springs Personal Injury cases and slip and fall cases.
