If youve had a car accident anywhere in the Coachella Valley, from Palm Springs to Palm Desert, or anywhere from Indio and Coachella to La Quinta, youve probably been wondering if the California state legislators are working on any new Bills to try to prevent car accidents.
I had heard that the states legislators were rushing to pass a new laws to prevent certain activities to prevent accidents so I called one of my state Senators to learn how this would affect car drivers in California and personal injury victims. What he told me in confidence surprised me.
Youre outlawing texting, right? I asked.
Thats the plan, the Senator exclaimed. We just dont know how to define it.
So what are you considering outlawing to prevent car accidents? I asked.
For one thing, no more grooming, the Senator said.
Thats good, I said. No more watching people work on their faces or their hair while theyre driving.
No, no, were talking about grooming their cats. Thats verboten now. But I suppose we might as well add human grooming while were at it.
What about eating food and drinking beverages, I asked.
The Senator frowned. The fast food industry wouldnt like that, but drinking alcohol is still a no no.
Okay, what about making it an offense to be reading your mail?
You want to get on the bad side of literacy advocates? the Senator asked. Still, maybe we could get outlaw the reading of liberal media, the Republican said.
Forget that I asked, I said.
What about watching TV while driving? I asked. Surely that should be stopped.
Are you nuts? Those TVs in the back of minivans are one of the few things that keep kids quiet. They have to stay, the Senator said.
So what are you considering outlawing? I asked.
Well, youd probably be surprised what some people do in their cars.
Nothing would surprise me, I said. Im a personal injury lawyer.
Youll be glad to hear that in the not too distant future drivers wont be allowed to sleep while driving in their car.
Thats not allowed now? I asked.
We couldnt find it in the code, the Senator said.
Also, no more cooking in your car, the Senator said proudly.
Who suggested that? I asked.
The Senator ignored my question. Were also going to make it illegal to be using your computer while driving.
What about those computer navigational systems? I asked.
Theyre okay.
Car computers for gas efficiency, mileage, tire pressure and the like?
Still fine.
What kind of computers wont be allowed? I asked.
Were working on that, the Senator said.
Sounds like youve got your work cut out for you, I said. But what about having people just use their common sense not to do things that make it hard to concentrate on driving?
Being a lawyer, I thought you knew, the Senator said. If there isnt a law against it, someones always going to think its okay to do.
So what about texting I asked.
We gotta figure out how to define that, the Senator said.
If youve been injured in an accident involving a motor vehicle and want to know what new rules actually apply to driving a car, call the Law Offices of R. Sebastian Gibson.
If you've been involved in a personal injury accident in the Coachella Valley or Inland Empire or anywhere in Southern California, you can benefit from the representation of an experienced law firm who can serve as your
Palm Springs Car Accident Lawyer and
Palm Desert Personal Injury Attorney . For this reason, be sure to hire a California law firm with personal injury lawyers who serve areas such as Cathedral City, Indian Wells, Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree as well as Rancho Mirage, Desert Hot Springs, Twentynine Palms and Thermal so you are properly represented and get the compensation you deserve.
Note - On October 1, 2008, Governor Schwarzenegger banned motorists from texting, writing or reading messages on electronic devices. The law goes into effect January 1, 2009.
