Distracted Driving Outlawed Locally
Multiple news sources have been claiming that text messaging is an epidemic across the country with thousands of accidents happening every year due to distracted driving, but one town is not waiting for the state laws to catch up. According to the news, Bowling Green is banning distracted driving all together across the city's territory.
In Bowling Green, Ohio the law encompasses all types of distractions that create a hazard to drivers on roadways. City officials hope to see a drop in the number of accidents caused by distracted drivers as a result of the enforcement of this new law.
Read the full article here:
Drivers Confused Regarding GPS Use While Behind The Wheel
The ban on any wireless device use while behind the wheel has been calling for drivers to use safer methods of communication while in motion.
They are, however, allowed to use any device that will not take their hands, or mind, away from the wheel. Drivers who were questioned in a recent study were unaware of what they were supposed to do in regards to GPS technology, but according to the law in Alabama, if the driver refrains from fiddling with the device while on the road, it poses no problem.
Read the full article here:
Drivers Continue to Text and Drive in Georgia
In Johns Creek, Georgia drivers are continuing to text while driving, regardless of the consequences.
Texting is currently against the law in the state of Georgia but it is still legal to dial calls and utilize most of all other mobile phone functions while behind the wheel. It appears the statute has made it very difficult for officers to write a citation since the police and other local law enforcement agencies have stated that it is almost impossible to prove that drivers were actually texting.
Read the full article here:
Texting while driving law "nearly impossible" to enforce
Distracted Driving Data Not Enough
Regardless of how many studies are held, tangible data concerning driving and the use of a cell phone are presently non-existent.
Drivers are well aware of the dangers of texting or talking on a cell phone while they are driving, however, the use of electronic devices while driving still prevails. The use of cell phones while behind the wheel is not restricted to texting and talking either, according to the news; updating social apps and browsing web sites are other factors contributing to driver distraction which is hard to prove.
Read the full article here:
Dangers of texting while driving unknown
Texting And Driving Still A Problem Despite Citations
Texting while driving can earn a person a fine of $199.80 in certain areas, but the fine is not enough to convince people to stop the practice.
A survey completed more recently shows that 99.7% of respondents feel that people who text while driving do not get caught, which makes them believe that it’s ok to text and drive; this number has not changed since 2007, when they took the previous survey. The CAA has sponsored many programs and even this ordinance to curb texting and talking while driving, but to little effect.
For more info, read the full article here:
Texting and talking while driving remains a problem
Officers in Vancouver Working Hard To Crackdown Distracted Driving
The Vancouver police are claiming that a rise in aggressive and distracted drivers is causing more traffic accidents.
Recently released statistics show that traffic accidents have increased almost 20 percent in 3 months, which is a considerable increase if you take in consideration the number of accidents related to distracted driving. The police officers are working hard to crack down on the repeat offenders, and they are getting a lot of help from the local courts.
Read the full article here:
Aggressive, distracted drivers contributing to upswing in traffic injuries ...
Advanced Auto Gadgets Responsible For Distractions
Being a teen driver gives you a lot of freedom, but this freedom also allows distractions to intervene, and today with all the technology that is available to people everywhere, there are many more distractions for new teen drivers, who unfortunately have been causing many accidents annually.
The new desirable gadgets in cars are to blame for many accidents and deaths in the United States every year since drivers tend to become distracted by them, and being diverted by several technological devices it is not limited to just teen drivers.
Read the full article here:
Dashboard glitz is driving us to distraction -- and danger
Texting and Driving Ban Sweeping the Nation
Multiple news agencies have revealed that a big ban on texting while driving is sweeping the nation as more and more states realize how dangerous it may be to drivers and passengers alike.
Take Sioux Falls of South Dakota for instance, they are considering a new program is called Citizens for Cell Phone Safety While Driving. The city council is hoping this measure will help bring awareness to those who text and drive.
For more details on this plan to ban texting and driving, click here.
N.C. Teen Drivers Ignoring The Law
Despite a North Carolina law outlawing the use of cell phones for teen drivers in the territory, many still admit to ignoring the law.
The evidence is based on a study that interviewed 5,000 teen drivers with the help of the Highway Safety Research Center at the University of North Carolina. According to the news, lawmakers are disappointed and because of this report, they are considering looking into the law again to make changes that would help improve this situation. Overall, the cell phone use among teens decreased slightly but there are more teen drivers on the road each year.
Some blame phone providers with changing texting plans that encourage unlimited texting.
Read the full article here:
Many teens ignoring N.C. cellphone ban, study shows
New Jersey Residents Hope Law Prevents Distracted Driving Crashes
In Trenton, New Jersey, Governor Christie is being asked to sign numerous bills to help better the community, including bills that could help to prevent distracted driving accidents.
These include increased punishments for distracted drivers, mandatory treatment programs for non-violent drug offenders, and handheld gambling in casinos. The Governor is going to have his hands full for a few days working out the details of these bills, but residents are hopeful it will create a sounder environment.
Read the full article here:
Action in Trenton: Roundup of key bills, including distracted driving ...
Rise in Distracted Driving Accidents Sparks Concerns
In the past couple of weeks there has been an extreme rise in the amount of reports related to drivers being in accidents after being spotted driving recklessly because of possible distractions.
Some distractions that could be associated with most of these accidents are cell phone use and adjusting electronics and other vehicular systems such as music players and GPS devices. Drivers are urged to stay safe by not allowing distractions from taking over.
To learn more, read the full article here:
Distracted drivers all over the roads
Cell Phone Ban Might Be Enacted in Great Falls, Montana
Multiple news outlets across the nation have reported that Great Falls, Montana is close to voting on a ban of cell phones for those who are driving.
Officials are nearing a vote banning hands-on use of phones while driving and although residents are split on the vote, with some fiercely defending it while others are working hard to repeal the possible law, it's possible that the ban will be enacted.
Agencies will be reporting on this soon.
For more info, click here.
Ford Develops Device To Keep Drivers From Being Distracted
Multiple news agencies have revealed that Ford Motor Company has been reportedly creating a few new safety systems that are being designed to prevent bored motorists from distracting themselves while driving during busy traffic jams.
According to a string of articles released in the media, the devices engineered by Ford use numerous sensors, radar systems, and even cameras to prevent accidents caused by distracted driving from occurring.
The new safety system will be able to determine when you are in traffic and will hopefully be able to block distractions such as an incoming cell phone call or text message.
Vehicles with these technologically advanced systems are still not available but we will stay tuned for more information in the next couple of months.
Hopefully, more companies are able to address concerns related to preventable accidents and caused by distractions like cell phone use. I encourage you, however, to take the matter into your own hands and stop using your phone while driving. The minute you allow a distraction to take your attention away from the road ahead you’re putting the lives of many others in jeopardy as a result.
To stay on top of announcements and news related to car safety, visit our blog regularly and stay tuned.
Georgia State Bans Texting While Driving
On April 27th, 2010, Georgia's House of Representatives and Senate passed a bill that bans texting and driving as well as talking on your cell phone while driving. Once the bill becomes a law, it will ban cell phone use for teens age 16 and 17, and will ban texting while driving for drivers of all ages. Offenses made by juvenile drivers come with a penalty of $150 fine with a 90 license suspension (or suspension until they turn 18 if that comes first). The $150 fine is doubled if another traffic violation occurs at the same time, for instance speeding while driving and texting. Adult drivers will only be fined $100.
Many feel that while the law is a step in the right direction, the penalties that come with it are not stringent enough to really deter people from texting while driving. Personal injury attorney, Kirk Bernard, feels that the law should extend to ban all drivers from talking on the cell phone while driving, regardless of their age.
If the bill becomes a law, it will be dubbed the Caleb Sorohan Act to commemorate Caleb Sorohan, a 19 year old boy who was killed due to an accident he caused by driving while text messaging. Currently, the bill is awaiting a signature from the Governor.
Georgia now joins the nine other States who have passed laws banning text messaging while driving. These other states include Oregon, Washington, New York, Colorado, and Virginia. Many of these states, such as Washington, have made texting and talking on a hand-held cell phone a primary offense so that a police officer can make a citation without needing another offense as a reason to pull the driver over.
As a Seattle personal injury lawyer, I have seen an explosion of car accidents caused by cell phone use and texting while driving over the last two to three years. Often times, the people who survive the accidents are still left with debilitating injuries that can last a lifetime. A Youtube video made by a police department in the UK is circulating at a rapid rate and was showcased in this clip from the Today Show. They created a public service announcement that graphically portrays a horrific car accident that kills four people, as a result of a driver who is text-messaging and crosses into oncoming traffic. You should be prepared that this video is extremely graphic, but it might be the key to discourage drivers from texting while behind the wheel.
More resources regarding texting and driving can be found here.