Texting and driving still a problem after Georgia ban

June 04, 2013

Cell phones have become an intricate part of our lives and if you go anywhere in Dekalb County, you are likely to see many people talking on their phones, texting, and even watching videos or answering emails. However, when you combine texting with driving, the chance of becoming involved in a car accident is 23 times more likely according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The danger that texting presents

Despite educational and law enforcement efforts, some people do not believe texting is that dangerous of an activity. Studies have shown, however, that any kind of mobile device is a distraction that takes a person's mind and eyes off of the road. On average, it is estimated that a driver takes 4.6 seconds to look down at their phone's screen. While that may not sound like a lot of time, when traveling at 55-miles per hour a car can travel the equivalency of a football field during those seconds.

Even using a hands-free device such as a headset does not lower those odds according to the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety. The reason for this is because drivers still tend to concentrate more on the conversation than the road. For example, you have probably had the experience where you missed your exit because you were talking with a passenger and didn't notice the exit sign. The same effect can be applied to texting and driving since you are dealing with a conversation and a mobile device at the same time.

Georgia ban on texting

In 2010, Georgia lawmakers passed a ban on texting while driving but in 2012 the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that few people were actually being convicted for the offense. The Georgia State Patrol and other law enforcement struggle with enforcing the law because a person using their phone will simply hide it so the officer can't see them with it. Another problem appears to be that those caught texting and driving are only hit with a fine of $150--hardly a deterrent some people feel.

At the time, only 1,281 people had been convicted under the texting law; 11 citations are handed out each month according to the Georgia State Patrol. The breakdown of county statistics for texting and driving convictions are:
- Gwinnett County - 665
- Cobb County - 64
- Fulton County - 43
- Clayton County - 20
- Dekalb County - 16

With law enforcement admittedly not aggressively enforcing the texting and driving law, people still remain at risk of being seriously injured in a crash involving a distracted driver who was texting.

Taking legal action

While the texting ban may make some drivers think about using their cell phone while driving, it clearly won't stop every person from engaging in the behavior. Victims of texting accidents may suffer the same kinds of injuries associated with drunk driving since the car is generally traveling at full speed when the collision occurs. Therefore, it is important for victims of texting-and-driving accidents to seek appropriate compensation. If you have been injured because of a texting driver, you should consider meeting with an experienced personal injury lawyer that deals with texting crashes.

Article provided by William Tinkler, Jr. Attorney at Law, P.C.
Visit us at www.tinklerlawfirm.com