Checking the Pulse of Distracted Driving in New York

September 13, 2012 (Press-News.org) Checking the Pulse of Distracted Driving in New York

Every year too many people in Western New York are injured or killed in car accidents caused by distracted driving. In response to the road safety epidemic, state leaders in Albany passed a primary texting and driving law that gives police the power to pull motorists over specifically for the activity. In the one year since the law became effective, four times as many tickets for texting and driving were issued, and hopefully the threat of a ticket has also lowered the risk of an accident.

The term distracted driving is thrown about a lot, but what exactly is distracted driving? According to the U.S. Department of Transportation ("DOT"), distracted driving is any activity that diverts a person's attention away from the primary task of driving, and it includes cognitive, manual and visual distraction. Distracted driving is not limited to one act and, in addition to the use of smart phones and cell phones, includes everything from eating and drinking to grooming or turning around to yell at your kids in the back seat of the car. In fact, one recent study in Britain found that accidents rose during summer months because drivers were more likely to ogle pedestrians in summer outfits -- a form of distracted driving that would be funny if it wasn't so dangerous.

Distracted Driving Statistics

Distracted driving not only endangers drivers behind the wheel but also passengers and pedestrians. To help the public better understand the dangers of distracted driving, the U.S. DOT has gathered statistics on the hazardous behavior.

A driver who uses a hand-held device behind the wheel is four times more likely to get into a crash involving serious injury. According to research by Carnegie Mellon, using a cell phone, even a hands-free cell phone, reduces driving activity in the brain by 40 percent.

Texting while driving is probably the most dangerous driving behavior. A driver who sends or receives a text removes focus from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, which is the same as traveling the length of a football field at 55 miles per hour. Moreover, texting while driving increases the risk of an accident by 23 times.

New York Texting-While-Driving Ban

Police, legislators and safety advocates in New York have tried to change attitudes toward distracted driving through different distracted driving bans and penalties. As mentioned above, New York passed a law last year that prohibits the use of handheld cell phones while behind the wheel and texting while driving. The law also gives police the power to pull drivers over specifically for texting and driving.

Since the law has been in effect, law enforcement officials have issued more than 20,000 tickets to motorists for texting. Drivers who are ticketed for texting or handheld cell phone use face a $150 fine and the addition of two to three driving points. Statistics regarding the law's influence on the rate of car accidentshave not been released yet, but it is expected to save lives by reducing car accidents caused by distracted drivers.

Hopefully the new measures will encourage drivers to change their behavior behind the wheel. If, however, you or a loved one has been injured in a distracted driving accident, it is important to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to review your legal rights and make sure that you comply with the time limitations relating to filing a claim under New York law.

Article provided by Gelber & O'Connell, LLC
Visit us at http://www.gelberoconnell.com