March 11, 2014 (Press-News.org) Distracted driving motor vehicle accidents caused by cellphone use have skyrocketed within the past decade.
Distraction.gov indicates that approximately 660,000 drivers are using cellphones while behind the wheel of a car at any given time during the day. The National Safety Council--a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing injury and death on U.S. roadways--states that 25 percent of all vehicle crashes today are the result of texting or talking on a mobile device. Further, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety indicates that mobile devices are the number one distraction for teen drivers.
And the list of statistics goes on and on.
Present regulation
Many states have passed distracted driving laws limiting or prohibiting the use of hand-held mobile devices or texting while driving. Communities have also done their part. Awareness campaigns and initiatives about the dangers of distracted driving have been promoted on TV networks, social media pages, and billboards all across America.
Yet these measures just don't seem to be enough. More solutions are needed to really combat the out-of-control rise in auto accidents caused by drivers using cellphones behind the wheel.
According to experts interviewed in the British Medical Journal, technological advancements are the real solution to stopping the epidemic.
Is technology the most effective answer?
Community educational efforts may seem like a great way to get people to listen and discontinue the behavior, but there really is no evidence to support their success, they say.
Further, the experts conclude that state laws passed to prohibit the use of cellphones or texting behind the wheel may not be very effective either. A law can get passed, but if it's not enforced enough or at all, then it's essentially useless, they indicated. Additionally, many state distracted driving laws are secondary, which means that the driver must first commit a traffic violation before getting a ticket for violating a cellphone law.
So, technological advances may be the most effective way to curb the continuous rise in auto accidents from distracted driving.
Examples
The experts point to several examples such as:
- Mobile device software that prevent drivers from texting if a vehicle in motion is detected
- Automatic voicemail messages that inform callers to leave a message if there's an indication the person they are contacting is driving
- Cellphone pull-over areas that offer free Wi-Fi
- Vehicle sensors that would askew cellphone reception when a car's ignition is turned on
However, for any of these advances to really work, cellphone makers, software companies, and automobile manufacturers must all be on board and take proactive measures to create such technology.
As more and more people rely on cellphones every day, it's likely auto accidents from distracted drivers will continue in the U.S. unless something that really works is done.
Article provided by DiLoreto, Cosentino & Bolinger, P.C.
Visit us at www.dcblaw.com
Stopping distracted driving accidents through technology
Communities across the U.S. have implemented initiatives to combat auto accidents caused by distracted driving. Yet they don't seem to be enough. Technological advancements may be the real solution.
2014-03-11
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Safety of healthcare workers focus of new OSHA initiative
2014-03-11
When people think of extremely dangerous occupations, they may not think of individuals working in the healthcare field. However, many of these employees encounter a variety of risks to their safety and health on a daily basis. Some facilities may even fail to take the necessary precautions to keep workplaces safe, which could subject some individuals to workplace accidents that could be easily preventable.
If one of these accidents occurs, the injured individuals may be eligible to file for workers' compensation benefits. According to the Occupational Safety and Health ...
Legal recourse for failure to diagnose a heart attack
2014-03-11
Misdiagnosis of a variety of conditions happens all too often. Physicians and other healthcare professionals fail to see the symptoms for a particular ailment that results in injury to a patient.
In many cases, misdiagnosis occurs simply because doctors don't spend enough time with patients. CNN reports that the average time a family practitioner spends with a patient has decreased over the past decade. In fact it has "dwindled to a speedy seven minutes," they say. And, for urgent care doctors, the amount of time spent with a patient is likely even less as ...
Possibilities when dividing an Illinois business after divorce
2014-03-11
Dividing marital assets in divorce can be difficult and contentious. When a couple owns a business together, complications can multiply rapidly. Unlike many assets, including retirement accounts, bank accounts and other assets, business ownership can be difficult to divide or liquidate. That is in addition to the emotional ties each soon-to-be ex-spouse has towards the direction and management of the business.
Illinois is an equitable division state. That means that marital assets -- all assets accumulated during the marriage -- will be divided "fairly" by ...
Never-ending winter can make for some icy New York City sidewalks
2014-03-11
This winter has been particularly miserable in New York, especially since multiple run-ins with the polar vortex have left many with the impression that there is no end in sight. Indeed, at almost every turn Mother Nature has tested the resolve of New York residents with historic low temps and near record snowfall totals. This will surely be a winter that most New Yorkers will not soon forget.
One unfortunate consequence of such severe winters is the ever-present danger of icy and slippery sidewalks. Even worse, harsh winter temperatures can often cause New York sidewalks ...
Study: Fatalities from non-motorized accidents increasing
2014-03-11
When you think about the dangers caused by distracted driving, you probably think that the most likely one would be a collision with another motor vehicle. However, distracted driving can often also cause cars to collide with pedestrians and bicycles. When this happens, the results can be catastrophic. The lucky ones may walk away from the accident with a few bruises or scrapes, but pedestrian and bicycle accidents can often result in a fatality, due to the superior weight and size of the motor vehicle.
Unfortunately, according to a new study, the number of people killed ...
Study: spinal cord injuries on the rise
2014-03-11
Suffering a spinal cord injury can change a person's life forever. Unfortunately, new research indicates that the incidence of these injuries is on the rise in the U.S.
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine examined data collected on 43,137 adults in the U.S. who were admitted to hospitals as a result of spinal cord injury between 2007 and 2009. According to their study, which was published in the Journal of Neurotrauma, uncovered some important facts about spinal cord injuries:
- In 2007, the incidence of spinal cord injuries among adults between ...
Federal agency proposes database of truck drivers' drug and alcohol use
2014-03-11
On February 12, 2014 the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced that it was publishing a proposed rule that would establish a database of information about chemical test results of those who hold commercial driver's licenses. Drug and alcohol use is a huge problem in the trucking industry, and the database is an effort at cracking down on drivers who drive under the influence.
Documenting drug test data
The proposed rule would establish the Commercial Driver's License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. Commercial carriers will need to upload positive drug ...
Ian Manock Celebrates Four Decades of Emergency Management
2014-03-11
Charles Sturt University Emergency Management Courses Coordinator Ian Manock has been recognized for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in Tertiary level emergency management education, including the key areas of emergency management planning, operations and recovery.
With an impressive four decades of practiced experience in his field, Mr. Manock is uniquely qualified to oversee a wide range of tasks on behalf of Charles Sturt University. Over the course of the last 14 years, in his role as an emergency management lecturer and course coordinator at Charles ...
Runaway Amish: The Great Escape
2014-03-11
Emma Gingerich left her Amish community in Eagleville, Missouri, at the age of eighteen. Disagreeing with the beliefs of Amish traditions and upbringing, she made a personal decision that forced her to find the courage to leave the only life she'd ever known. She fled across the country to a family in Harlingen. The emotional turmoil she'd unknowingly inflict upon herself, family, and friends - gut wrenching. She was eighteen years old when she left.
Considered no longer a daughter and a sister, temporarily exiled, Emma found her freedom. Placing a priority on her education, ...
Worldwide Branding Recognizes Robert J. Dubrowski for Commitment to Leadership in the Banking and Finance Sector
2014-03-11
Worldwide Branding announces that Robert Joseph Dubrowski, Senior Managing Director and Member of the Executive Committee and Chief Financial Officer of Natixis U.S., the U.S. Wholesale Banking business line of Natixis S.A., has been recognized for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in banking and finance.
With 39 years of experience in his field, Mr. Dubrowski is recognized for his concrete understanding of international banking and global markets. He also posseses valued management and consultancy skills in financial, fiscal, regulatory and strategic planning ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Biochemical parameters in patients with diabetic nephropathy versus individuals with diabetes alone, non-diabetic nephropathy, and healthy controls
Muscular strength and mortality in women ages 63 to 99
Adolescent and young adult requests for medication abortion through online telemedicine
Researchers want a better whiff of plant-based proteins
Pioneering a new generation of lithium battery cathode materials
A Pitt-Johnstown professor found syntax in the warbling duets of wild parrots
Cleaner solar manufacturing could cut global emissions by eight billion tonnes
Safety and efficacy of stereoelectroencephalography-guided resection and responsive neurostimulation in drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy
Assessing safety and gender-based variations in cardiac pacemakers and related devices
New study reveals how a key receptor tells apart two nearly identical drug molecules
Parkinson’s disease triggers a hidden shift in how the body produces energy
Eleven genetic variants affect gut microbiome
Study creates most precise map yet of agricultural emissions, charts path to reduce hotspots
When heat flows like water
Study confirms Arctic peatlands are expanding
KRICT develops microfluidic chip for one-step detection of PFAs and other pollutants
How much can an autonomous robotic arm feel like part of the body
Cell and gene therapy across 35 years
Rapid microwave method creates high performance carbon material for carbon dioxide capture
New fluorescent strategy could unlock the hidden life cycle of microplastics inside living organisms
HKUST develops novel calcium-ion battery technology enhancing energy storage efficiency and sustainability
High-risk pregnancy specialists present research on AI models that could predict pregnancy complications
Academic pressure linked to increased risk of depression risk in teens
Beyond the Fitbit: Why your next health tracker might be a button on your shirt
UCSB scientists bottle the sun with liquid battery
Lung cancer drug offers a surprising new treatment against ovarian cancer
When consent meets reality: How young men navigate intimacy
Siemens Healthineers and Mayo Clinic expand strategic collaboration to enhance patient care through advanced technology
Physicists develop new protocol for building photonic graph states
OHSU-led research initiative examines supervised psilocybin
[Press-News.org] Stopping distracted driving accidents through technologyCommunities across the U.S. have implemented initiatives to combat auto accidents caused by distracted driving. Yet they don't seem to be enough. Technological advancements may be the real solution.