September 08, 2012 (Press-News.org) The Associated Press recently reviewed traffic citation data in Connecticut in an effort to determine the effects of the laws governing distracted driving. The laws were first implemented in 2006. Connecticut drivers may find the results to be somewhat surprising.
The AP found that Connecticut men have received more tickets for talking or texting on their cellphones than Connecticut women. According to the AP, while women account for over 50 percent of the licensed drivers in Connecticut, men have received between 52 and 54 percent of the tickets for distracted driving each year.
Some experts suggest this discrepancy can be explained by the propensity of men to participate in risky activities. They bolster their argument by pointing to traffic fatality statistics, as more men than women die in traffic accidents annually.
Regardless of the reasons, it is critical for Connecticut drivers of any gender to be aware of the state's distracted driving laws and adhere to them.
Connecticut's Distracted Driving Laws
In Connecticut, all drivers are prohibited from using handheld cellphones and texting while driving. Drivers who disobey these laws receive a ticket for $125 -- the penalty increases to $250 after a second incident.
In addition, bus drivers and novice drivers are prohibited from using cellphones altogether, whether handheld or hands-free. If drivers under 18 years of age are caught using their cellphones, their license may be suspended.
In 2010 and 2011, Connecticut was part of a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to increase public awareness and police enforcement of distracted driving laws. The agency initiated a campaign with the catch phrase "phone in one hand, ticket in the other." In addition, Hartford police instituted a "high-visibility enforcement" technique to catch distracted drivers, essentially increasing police enforcement of the distracted driving laws. The results were staggering. Over a one-year period, Hartford drivers who used hand-held cellphones dropped by 57 percent. The number of drivers who read or sent text messages while on the road decreased by 72 percent during that period.
While Connecticut has strict laws regulating distracted driving, accidents caused by drivers talking or texting on their cellphones continue to be a problem. According to the NHTSA, over 3,000 people died in motor vehicle accidents caused by distracted drivers in 2010. In addition, around 416,000 people sustained injuries in such collisions.
A study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that drivers who send or receive text messages must take their eyes off the road for around 4.6 seconds. While this may not sound like enough time to cause harm, when a vehicle is traveling at 55 mph, 4.6 seconds is the equivalent of driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.
Consequently, researchers found that people who text while driving are 23 times more likely to cause an accident than those who are focusing on the road.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident caused by a distracted driver, consulting with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney can ensure your rights are protected and you receive just compensation.
Article provided by Brian J. Mongelluzzo
Visit us at www.bjmlaw.com
Chatty Cathy? Try Chatty Charles -- Distracted Driving in Connecticut
Distracted driving in Connecticut continues to be a serious concern, and more men than women are receiving citations for talking or texting while driving.
2012-09-08
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Sex Crimes Committed Abroad, But Punishable in New Jersey
2012-09-08
According to a new State Superior Court ruling in Bergen County, New Jersey, certain crimes that occur outside of New Jersey, but related to conduct originating in the state, are punishable under New Jersey law. The opinion states that New Jersey citizens who commit sex crimes abroad against minors who are under their control may be charged and tried in the state. The penalties are the same for crimes actually committed in New Jersey, including prison sentences and sex offender registration under the state's requirements for Megan's Law.
Crimes Committed Abroad
During ...
How to Stop California Companies from Using Misappropriated Trade Secrets
2012-09-08
Everyone involved in the business world knows what a trade secret is and the immense value it can possess. However, the whole point of a trade secret is that a company derives value from the secret because it is just that, a secret. When a trade secret is misappropriated and/or made public, the trade secret not only loses value but the company risks losing the trade secret all together.
This begs the question, is there any relief available for a company after their trade secret is misappropriated? Is there any way to put the genie back in the bottle so other companies ...
What Type of Bankruptcy is Best for You
2012-09-08
Many people who are dealing with debt problems struggle over whether to file for bankruptcy protection. Most are deterred by common bankruptcy myths, such as not being eligible for loans ever again, or losing all of their personal property. Regardless of the fears involved, bankruptcy is a major undertaking. Part of moving past these fears is learning about the debts that may be discharged and how different debts affect the property that may be protected.
Unsecured vs. secured debts
In a nutshell, bankruptcy law revolves around secured and unsecured debts. Distinguishing ...
The Law Can Be a Tangled Web: An Oregon Fight to Be Heard
2012-09-08
When a wrong is done to your business, to you or to someone you love, it feels like it should be straightforward to get fair legal compensation for the injury or financial loss. Typically, if a business entity or person caused something bad to happen, commencing with commercial litigation or a personal injury or other civil lawsuit is usually an effective way to bring the offending party to the table to resolve the dispute.
But sometimes even when right and wrong seem clear, the law that applies can be so complicated that what seems like it should be a simple case of ...
Foreclosure Crisis Hits Older Americans Hard, but Seniors Have Options
2012-09-08
According to a new AARP report, as of July, 2012, more than 1.5 million older Americans have lost their homes in the foreclosure crisis. Millions more remain at risk.
Approximately 600,000 Americans 50 years old or older are currently in foreclosure, and some 625,000 in the same age group are at least three months behind on their mortgages.
About 3.5 million older homeowners -- nearly one in six -- are underwater on their mortgages, meaning they now owe more than their homes are worth.
Americans over the age of 50 still have a lower rate of serious mortgage delinquency ...
Congress' Transportation Deal Is a Big Win for Trucking Safety
2012-09-08
On June 28, the houses of Congress reached an historic deal that will lead to big changes in the trucking industry. It wouldn't be an understatement to call the finalized bill a substantial step forward in the battle for safer American roadways; it has the potential to drastically reduce truck accidents.
Provisions of New Bill Include Tougher Driver Standards, Required Data Recorders
The Senate bill, called MAP-21, contains numerous truck safety provisions. Perhaps most prominent is the requirement that all commercial vehicles be equipped with Electronic On-board ...
Ignition Interlock Devices for DUI Offenses in Washington State
2012-09-08
The loss of your driving privileges can be highly disruptive to your daily routine. If you've been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol in Washington State, or even if you've just been arrested for DUI, your license may be suspended or revoked.
However, your suspension or revocation does not necessarily have to keep you from driving. An ignition interlock device is a machine that prevents a motor vehicle from starting unless the driver can provide a breath sample that measures below a preset limit for alcohol. Under Washington's ignition interlock program, ...
Definition of 'Stalking' Expanded in Texas
2012-09-08
Texas law treats domestic violence as a serious crime. All reported acts of domestic abuse -- a crime that ranges broadly from verbal threats to physical battery -- will be investigated by law enforcement. A conviction on domestic violence charges can bring serious criminal consequences, including a lengthy prison term.
Texas' domestic violence laws have tended to get stricter over time. Recently, the state changed its criminal code to broaden the definition of stalking. It did so because of the strong connection between stalking and violent crime. Data from the Bureau ...
Electronic Privacy Law May Soon Be Updated
2012-09-08
The next time you pick up your smartphone to check your Facebook messages, boot up your netbook to check the latest news, or even use your tablet to upload pictures of your latest adventure, think about how communication has changed since 1986.
Just over 35 years ago, Congress enacted the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA); a law geared to update the Federal Wiretap Act of 1968 so that electronic communications are protected as they are made, while they are in transit, and when they are stored on computers. It also prevented the government from retrieving (or ...
Divorce 101-Different Types of Divorce
2012-09-08
If you have decided you want a divorce, you need to decide what method or process you wish to use. There is traditional litigation and there are alternative methods, and you need to consider which one may best suit your circumstances.
Traditional Litigation
This is what most people conceive of as "a divorce." Both spouses are represented by divorce attorneys, disputes can be taken to the court where a judge will decide the issue and sign the final divorce agreement or settlement.
This method is fully "adversarial," in that both sides have their ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
‘Ultimate dinner party guests’: Dispersed communities attending feast in ancient Iran gifted boars sourced from distant lands
Temozolomide and radiation treatment lead to dramatic tumor shrinkage and improvement of hearing in an adult brainstem glioma patient with a rare IDH2 mutation
Unveiling the mystery of electron dynamics in the 'quantum tunneling barrier' for the first time
Do dogs judge you?
Human-AI ‘collaboration’ makes it simpler to solve quantum physics problems
Be Well Texas at UT Health San Antonio to lead major statewide expansion of opioid use disorder and recovery services
Freshwater fish, too, attracted to artificial root structures
In hard-to-treat form of tuberculosis, shorter, gentler therapy shows unequal benefit
Warming oceans a turn-off for female Critically Endangered sharks
University of Surrey launches Space Institute to drive the UK's small satellite boom and tackle urgent global challenges
Look to the data, not the marketing: Turfgrass research shows no differences in ‘penetrant’ and ‘retainer’ wetting agents
New organ recovery technique could make more heart transplants available
NCSA supporting Georgia Tech in new AI venture
Revised, more accurate Baltic ringed seal count – Hunting slows population growth
Eight babies born after Mitochondrial Donation treatment to reduce transmission of mitochondrial DNA disease
Music may reduce distress for dementia patients
The American Ornithological Society announces its 2025 research grantees
Fetal exposure to vape liquids linked to changes in skull shape
Did a meteor impact trigger a landslide in the Grand Canyon?
Study suggests some maternal HIV infections may be missed during pregnancy
Bacterial genomes hold clues for creating personalized probiotics
Rice University scientists discover way to engineer stronger soft devices through smarter silicone bonding
Innovation Crossroads welcomes six entrepreneurs for Cohort 2025
Researchers explore ways to better safeguard romaine supply
Spider’s visual trickery can fool AI
During pregnancy, are newer antiseizure medications safer than older drugs?
Do race and ethnicity play a role in a person’s risk of peripheral neuropathy?
Older adults who increased their regular walking pace by just 14 steps per minute were more likely to experience clinically significant improvements in a test of aerobic capacity and walking endurance
For adults with hearing loss, linear amplification (amplification across all sound levels, available with some hearing aids) might restore their ability to recognize emotion in voices
Self-reporting climate anxiety in the United States is linked to being young, female, believing climate change will impact you personally, and more frequent media and community discussions around clim
[Press-News.org] Chatty Cathy? Try Chatty Charles -- Distracted Driving in ConnecticutDistracted driving in Connecticut continues to be a serious concern, and more men than women are receiving citations for talking or texting while driving.