The Perils Of Driving While Texting

We all know the dangers of drinking and driving. Every year, innocent lives are claimed on our roadways as a result of such negligence. However, negligence on the road isn't limited to alcohol abuse. A more common distraction to a motorist is driving while texting.  Driving while texting is a relatively new phenomenon that has proven to be fatal. But it should be regarded as serious an offense as drinking and driving is.

Not convinced? Let's take a look at some sobering facts about driving while texting (specifically among teens who text the most).

-Driving a vehicle while texting is six times more dangerous than driving while intoxicated according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

-The federal agency reports that sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent -- when traveling at 55 mph -- of driving the length of an entire football field while blindfolded.

-Also according to the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration, Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of crashes among ALL drivers. For teens, it causes 11 percent of fatal crashes, and of those, 21 percent involved cellphones.

-The proportion of alcohol-related traffic crash deaths has dropped 52% since 1982 as a result of awareness, vigilance and statistical analysis. As a result, alcohol-related deaths are now at historic lows, but the proportion of traffic accident fatalities that are NOT alcohol-related has sky-rocketed 78% during the same time.

What is the solution?

The solution is to address the reality through awareness the same way MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) were able to do. Now, there is an organization called Students Against Texting and Driving that is raising awareness among their peers as well as their parents. But more can still be done. While texting and driving is an unfortunate bi-product of the technological boom, technology could also help remedy the crisis it caused. For parents, there are apps that allow them to monitor and even disable phone use when the car is in operation. It would behoove any parent with a teen who has a cell phone and a license to look into.

For those who have had the unfortunate experience of being involved in an accident with a motorist who was texting while driving, then we want to hear your story. Our expert attorneys are abreast of the ever evolving laws concerning negligence behind the wheel, be it the result of alcohol intoxication or distraction by technology. Either circumstance is dire and should be addressed with vigorous legal counsel. We are here for you. Give us a call today.

Eyes On The Road

Distracted drivers can cause traumatic accidents on our nations roads simply by sending a text. Yes, we've been discussing texting and driving for some time now. We shouldn't stop until the message is clear. The dangers of texting and driving aren't a myth.

Each year, teen drivers get behind the wheel. Before the technological boom, talking on the phone and driving were teenagers favorite pastimes. But since then, those pastimes have combined and yielded deadly results.

The importance of telling your children about the dangers of driving and texting/talking are as important as telling them not to drink and drive. It starts with leading a good example. Mom and Dad can't talk or text either. It's proven that it's just as distracting for them. Consider as bad as driving the kids to school with a cocktail in your hand... It's that bad.

Spread awareness. Let others know (politely) of the dangers of texting while driving. If you see it, report it. It's that serious.

Proposed Distracted Driving Legislation In Missouri

There are many environmental distractions a driver may face on the road, but because text messaging demands the manual, visual, and cognitive attention of a driver, it is probably the most recklessly negligent distraction, next to driving while intoxicated. The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. This is the equivalent of driving more than the length of an entire football field at 55 mph, blind. Colorado studies have shown that the reaction time of texting drivers is equivalent to that of drunk drivers!

Distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic in our country. In 2011 alone, 3,331 people were killed in distracted driving related incidents and another 387,000 people were injured. That number is up from the 3,267 people that were killed in 2010.

There are two Missouri bills currently in the legislature that seek to expand the state's ban on texting while driving to drivers of all ages, says handsfreeinfo.com. Currently the law only applies to drivers under the age of 21. The 20 and under age group has the greatest number of drivers reported to have been distracted during a fatal accident.

The Columbia Missourian recently reported that on average, fewer than four people per month have received a texting while driving ticket; and out of Missouri's 114 counties, half of them have ticketed no one. Prosecutors believe that the age barrier makes it difficult for police to pull drivers over, since they must make an age determination of the driver while they're in a moving vehicle.

The following distracted driving bills will be taken up by the Missouri House of Representatives in 2013:

House Bill 145: This bill would outlaw the use of any handheld wireless communication device while driving unless the device is equipped with hands free voice recognition technology, and is being used in this manner.

House Bill 394: This bill would apply Missouri's text messaging law to all drivers. Hands free voice recognition technology is exempt from this.

House Bill 524: This bill will prohibit all drivers, regardless of age, from text messaging while operating a moving vehicle unless the device being used is equipped with technology allowing for voice-recognition hands-free texting.

Contact the St. Louis Personal Injury Attorneys of The Glassman Law Firm at 314-446-6000 if you have been injured in an accident involving a distracted driver.