Teen Cell Phone Use and Car Accidents

Cell phone use is on the rise. The incidence of driving and talking or texting is too. Distracted driving and youthful drivers are two factors that have always impacted accident statistics.

2011-03-16

ATLANTA, GA, March 16, 2011 (Press-News.org) Cell phone use is on the rise. The incidence of driving and talking or texting is too. Distracted driving and youthful drivers are two factors that have always impacted accident statistics. The combination of these two factors with the advent of the cell phone has added to an increasingly dangerous trend. Many states have already enacted legislation that place additional restrictions on youthful drivers and cell phone use. There are no such laws in the state of Georgia so even with the number of teen drivers in the greater Atlanta area no restrictions exist.

The statistics on youthful driver accident rates are readily available. Every year too many young people are injured and die on American roadways. There are various restrictions that are placed on teen drivers in many states that are designed to give them the opportunity to develop their driving skills with minimum distraction. The prominence of this issue has caused many state legislatures to enact legislation to restrict talking and texting while driving. 21 states have already enacted laws to restrict all cell phone use by youthful drivers.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety status report dated February 27, 2010 younger drivers are more likely to use cell phones while driving.

- Drivers younger than 30 spent 16% of their driving time on the phone
- Driver 30 - 59 spent 7%
- Drivers 60 and older spent just 2.5%

Texting is more common among younger drivers according to the survey. The data on texting and driving by state shows that 45% of drivers 18 - 24 years old in states with a ban on texting and driving still engage in the behavior. Comparatively, the numbers for states without a ban are 48%. Texting is such a concern as a driving distraction that states are addressing legislation at a frantic pace. There are challenges to enacting and enforcing laws and public opinion weighs in on the topic often delaying the enactment of needed legislation.

Talking on cell phones, texting and other distractions are of significant concern to parents and authorities. Endeavoring to keep people safe is a key feature of traffic related laws. As these issues continue to hold a place of prominent discussion in the news and legislative bodies around the county the rules will continue to be defined. As injuries and deaths are reported and attributed to cell phone use the emphasis on the topic will continue to increase. States that early adopters of restrictions are seen as proactive in ensuring public safety while others are continue to wrestle with the issues seeking to find the balance between protecting the public safety and their rights.

If you live in the Atlanta, Georgia area and have been injured in a car accident, please visit the website of Robbins & Associates, P.C. today at www.robbinslaw.com to learn more about your legal rights.

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