1620 5th AvenueLegislators in states and cities across the country placed bans on forms of distracted driving. As awareness continues to rise about the dangers associated with distracted driving, laws will continue to punish people who put other motorists at risk. California has stricter laws on the books than many states. There is a ban on texting and using any hand held device for all drivers. Bus drivers and “novice drivers” are completely banned from all cell phone use, including hands-free, according to Distraction.gov. Here are some stats from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to keep in mind.
- 5,474 people died in the US in 2009 in a car accident involving a distracted driver. Approximately 448,000 people were injured.
- 16% of all fatal car wrecks in the US in 2009 involved a distracted driver. 20% of accidents with an injury involved a distracted driver.
- 196 billion text messages were sent in June of 2011, up 50% from June 2009.
- Teenagers are the most likely age group to be involved in an accident as a result of a distracted driver.
- 40% of teens in the US claim to have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone and put them in danger.
- According to the University of Utah, using a phone—even if it is hands-free—slows your reaction time as much as having a blood alcohol concentration of .08%, the legal limit.
Have you or a loved one been injured or killed by a distracted driver?
Bonnici Law Group, APC—San Diego wrongful death attorney.
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