Another Fatal Accident Reminds South Carolinians to Hang Up and Drive

The "Great Hang Up" campaign receives a boost from a South Carolina father who lost his teen daughter to distracted driving.

2010-09-10

September 10, 2010 (Press-News.org) A grieving North Carolina father may seem like an unlikely advocate for South Carolina's "Great Hang Up" campaign, but Amos Johnson is trying to move on from a personal tragedy by encouraging others to act responsibly behind the wheel. His emotional story centers on the death of his 16-year-old daughter, Ashley Johnson. Ashley was on her way to work on July 23, 2010, when she apparently looked down to check a text message, drifted into and across the centerline, and struck a pickup head-on.

Mr. Johnson's story is particularly poignant because he went to great lengths to teach his daughter the importance of remaining focused on the road while driving. He explains that he rode with her for a year while she was learning to drive, constantly reminding her about the dangers of being distracted, trying to drill into her how vital it was that she not talk or text behind the wheel. Clearly, due in no small part to his efforts, Ashley knew the potential consequences, but she didn't follow her own advice.

What Is the Great Hang Up?

The Great Hang Up is a nationwide movement to reduce the behaviors associated with distracted driving -- specifically the use of cell phones, PDAs and mobile texting devices. A variety of legislative bodies around the country have taken action to ban (for some or all drivers) the use of handheld devices to talk, text or check email. In fact, eight states have banned cell phones and PDAs outright, and more than 30 localities (including D.C., the Virgin Islands and Guam) have put limitations on texting behind the wheel.

The Great Hang Up program is a way to keep the issue of distracted driving in the public eye and quell the tide of distracted driving-related crashes, injuries and deaths. South Carolina does not have any statewide anti-cell phone/texting provisions in place, and the most recent measure died in committee when the legislature recessed at the end of July.

If you or a loved one have been injured by the reckless and negligent actions of a distracted driver, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney in your area for more information about your legal rights and options.

Article provided by Monckton Law Firm PA
Visit us at www.beachbikelaw.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Ohio Parochial School Principal Accused of DUI

2010-09-10

A popular biblical quote proclaims that one should "judge not lest ye be judged," but when a DUI case involves a prominent individual -- especially one affiliated with a religious organization -- judgment runs rampant. A Catholic school principal was recently accused of drunk driving after being pulled over for driving erratically along I-75. Rob Fortener, the principal of Holy Angels School in Dayton, Ohio, will keep his job for the time being pending an investigation by Dayton police and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati regarding his suspected DUI. In an e-mail sent out ...

New Jersey Supreme Court Opinion Affects DWI Implied Consent Law

2010-09-10

The New Jersey Supreme Court recently issued an opinion that has major implications for law enforcement's implementation of the state's implied consent law. Like many jurisdictions, the Garden State's DWI statutes include a provision that all drivers suspected of intoxication must submit to testing for the presence of alcohol in their system. Those who refuse are subject to license revocation for at least seven months to a year and a fine of up to $1,000 for a first offense. The Supreme Court has now decided that all motorists are entitled to an explanation of the law in ...

Law Enforcement Officials Seize Over $1 Million in Marijuana

2010-09-10

Lexington County law enforcement recently received a tip concerning a large marijuana grow operation located in a remote swamp area off of Highway 178 near Pelion. As the site was not accessible by any vehicle, the Narcotics Enforcement Team, a multi-agency team from Lexington County, used aircraft surveillance to view the area prior to the raid. No one was at the scene and no arrests have been made. Officials believe the area was abandoned shortly after the surveillance began. Nearly 2,000 plants were seized and police estimate the total value of the operation at $1 ...

Car Sharing: Social Media, Insurance and a New Model of Ownership

2010-09-10

With car-sharing pools growing in popularity for economic and environmental reasons, California is poised to take the concept to a new level. In June, the California General Assembly unanimously passed a bill that would enable owners to share their cars within car-sharing pools and be reimbursed for gas, maintenance and depreciation without losing their personal car insurance coverage. If and when the legislation passes in the State Senate, the effect is likely to stimulate many more car-sharing programs across the country, including Florida. The economic and environmental ...

Complex Property Division in New Jersey

2010-09-10

Dividing property will always be one of the most challenging aspects of a divorce. New Jersey law calls for the equitable distribution of property, but separating spouses can rarely agree on the proper definition of equitable at the beginning of divorce proceedings. The division of property becomes even more challenging when the marital estate includes assets that have accumulated during marriage but have not yet fully matured. For example, consider the division of stock options. When stock options are granted during a marriage but will not vest until after the divorce, ...

Business Valuation As Part of Divorce in New Jersey

2010-09-10

Money matters often are among the most controversial aspects of a divorce. While other aspects of the divorce may be open to compromise based on the particular interests of the respective spouses, money is ultimately a zero-sum endeavor; every dollar assigned to one spouse is a dollar the other does not have. Accordingly, issues such as the equitable distribution of property and alimony are at the heart of many disputes. Although these are clearly related issues, they must be considered independently. When a family-owned business has provided a significant source of ...

PA Governor Proposes Highway Cameras to Identify Uninsured Drivers

2010-09-10

Drivers in Pennsylvania are required to carry automobile insurance. Unquestionably, this is important to protect the interests of drivers and passengers on the roads. Insurance coverage ensures that that when an individual is responsible for a car accident, those harmed by the accident are not forced to deal with the financial consequences alone. However, a recent proposal by Gov. Ed Rendell has many questioning how far the state should go to enforce this law. In an effort to combat budget shortfalls, Gov. Rendell has suggested using cameras to catch those who are ...

Disruptive Behaviors of Medical Professionals Injure Patients

2010-09-10

As patients, we trust medical professionals to act as, well, professionals. With lives quite literally on the line, we assume that doctors will take their obligations seriously and adhere to the highest standards of professional responsibility. Unfortunately, as a new report by the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority (PPSA) indicates, this trust is sometimes misplaced. In far too many cases, doctors put patient health and safety at risk through unprofessional behavior. According to the report, the PPSA found 177 incidents of "disruptive behavior" in the state over ...

Rules of the Road for Truckers

2010-09-10

Truckers have to comply with the rules of the road of every state in which they operate. In addition, the federal government, under the auspices of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), has its own rules for truckers at 49 C.F.R. Part 392. FMCSA Regulations on Operation of Large Commercial Vehicles According to FMCSA rules, drivers may not operate their vehicles when their attention is impaired by fatigue, illness or any other cause that makes operation of a vehicle unsafe. More detailed regulations regarding the number of hours that may be logged ...

The Harley Medical Group Reports Surge in Liposuction Procedures

2010-09-10

The Harley Medical Group has reported thousands of enquiries for liposuction over the last month as a wave of what is termed 'beach envy' - jealousy of other women's bodies - hit holidaymakers. The rise has been driven largely by 30-plus women, with clinic staff reporting patient feedback that suggests Victoria Beckham has the most coveted star stomach. Abdominoplasty surgery enquiries are also up 32% over the last two months with some patients even taking their summer holidays as 'surgery breaks', using the time off to recover before returning to work rejuvenated. Liz ...

Another Fatal Accident Reminds South Carolinians to Hang Up and Drive

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: