Dangers Of Distracted Driving

Dangers Of Distracted Driving

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So-called distracted driving using a cell phone instead of focusing on the road has been strongly implicated in vehicular accidents. Distracted driving is getting worse every year. It's an epidemic because everyone has a cellphone and they want to use it while driving. Texting is prohibited for all drivers: California's first lady was filmed thrice talking on a hand-held phone while driving. State highway patrol's cellphone citations are up from last year. Every month, thousands of motorists flout the state's ban on talking on hand-held cellphones while driving. They do it speeding along the highway and puttering through city streets. Drivers text at stoplights or check e-mails while keeping one hand on the wheel.

Federal agencies collect data on fatalities caused by "distracted driving," which can include anything from talking on a cellphone to eating in the car. If texting had not existed, the number of distracted driving fatalities would have actually declined from 4,611 to 1,925 per year from 2001 to 2007. As it is, distracted driving deaths increased to 5,870 in 2008, according to the US Department of Transportation.

For many their cars are their offices and the cellphone a professional lifeline. They answer and dial to share information despite the fact that they know it was a bad idea to chat while driving. They think they are in control and are confident that it is not an illegal act.

Dangers of cellphone use in automobiles:

Cellphones are dangerous but it's really how people are using the cellphones. Talking on a cellphone while driving was far more dangerous than anybody can realize
A driver on a phone has the same reaction speed as someone legally intoxicated. Those talking on a phone behind the wheel are four times as likely to crash
Texting while driving is even more dangerous: Texting caused total 'distracted driving' deaths to rise. Texting behind the wheel is a huge distraction because you're taking your mind off the road but also your eyes off the road
Hands-free headsets advertised as safer were no less dangerous.
Texting while driving is the new drunk driving: Texting while driving likely caused more than 16,000 road fatalities between 2002 and 2007
Texting and driving and gadgets like iPods and GPS devices are a public safety epidemic. If not for texting behind the wheel, the number of deaths from 'distracted driving' would have dropped each year from 2002 to 2007

Highway patrol has been conducting several "zero-tolerance" crackdowns in an effort to catch violators.

The fines for breaking the law can be anywhere between $20 and $300
The base fine is $20 for first-time offenders
Chatting motorists would pay closer to $100
Repeat offenders might fork over triple that

About the Author:
Learn more about your california lemon law rights for both lemon automobiles and consumers products.

The California lemon law attorneys of Krohn & Moss Ltd. handle lemon law claims for consumers in California. Call 1-800 US LEMON (800-875-3666) toll free to reach Krohn & Moss for your FREE initial consultation!



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