Checking the Pulse of Distracted Driving in New York

Last year, a stronger texting and driving ban was passed in New York. The new law has resulted in more tickets but its effect on accidents is not clear.

2012-09-13

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

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Federal Government to Sell Foreclosed Homes as Rental Properties

2012-09-13

Federal Government to Sell Foreclosed Homes as Rental Properties The federal government recently announced its plan to auction off thousands of foreclosed homes it owns through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in April 2012. What makes this trial project unique is that the homes will be sold at a discount as prospective rental properties, with both large and small investors seeing the potential for substantial return on investment. To start, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, or FHFA, will create pools of single-family homes that Fannie Mae owns and auction them off -- ...

Protecting Finances and Privacy in Divorce

2012-09-13

Protecting Finances and Privacy in Divorce A successful divorce requires time, energy, and recognizing that the relationship has changed from a shared existence to one with firm dividing lines. For legal and financial reasons, it's important for each spouse to protect their privacy and finances as soon as divorce becomes an issue. In addition, protecting personal and financial privacy can be essential to getting the best outcome out of the divorceprocess. Recommended Steps Experts recommend a number of steps to establish dividing lines in the digital age. First, ...

Texas Supreme Court to Decide Custody Case Affecting Future Disputes

2012-09-13

Texas Supreme Court to Decide Custody Case Affecting Future Disputes Using a mediator to resolve child custody and other matters in divorce is highly encouraged by the Texas judicial system. It reduces their dockets, lowers taxpayer costs and can even help the pocketbooks of the parties to the divorce. However, when couples do not use an attorney to protect their own interests during mediation, a soon-to-be ex-spouse may not consider certain factors and later regret a child custody agreement reached through mediation. That exact situation resulted in a case that will ...

The Basics of Repetitive Stress Injuries

2012-09-13

The Basics of Repetitive Stress Injuries Repetitive stress injuries are one of the most common work injuries in the U.S. The causes of repetitive stress injuries include repeat trauma to a specific body area, friction, or a systemic disease such as arthritis. While RSIs generally come on gradually, without treatment these injuries can get worse and ultimately result in a complete loss of function in the affected area. RSIs (also known as repetitive motion injuries, or RMIs) can stem from any repeated action such as using a computer at work, moving boxes or driving ...

Driver Error Often Responsible for Truck Crashes

2012-09-13

Driver Error Often Responsible for Truck Crashes Crashes between commercial vehicles and other motor vehicles account for some of the most severe crashes on the road. In fact, one out of every 10 fatal crashes involves large trucks. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a federal agency that focuses on preventing commercial vehicle accidents, is studying data from two Kansas researchers that identifies common causes of these dangerous accidents. These efforts may help reduce the number of large truck crashes throughout the U.S. Driver Error the Main Cause As ...

Texas One of Few States Not to Ban Texting While Driving

2012-09-13

Texas One of Few States Not to Ban Texting While Driving Texas is one of the few states that does not ban texting while driving. Some cities in Texas have banned the practice, but the state's governor recently vetoed a state-wide ban passed by the legislature in 2011, calling it "a government effort to micromanage the behavior of adults." Ending Texting While Driving a Main Priority for U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, the U.S. Transportation Secretary, has made the fight against distracted driving one of his main priorities since he was appointed ...

Be Wary of Social Media Use During Divorce

2012-09-13

As technology advances and brings society more ways to connect with one another electronically, people in Texas and around the world are becoming increasingly comfortable sharing information about their lives online. People often enjoy keeping their connections updated about events in their lives by posting on such sites as Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Flickr and MySpace. People sometimes even use these sites as a forum to vent about frustrations or problems. What people may not realize is that information they post on social media sites can negatively impact them in divorceproceedings. Gathering ...

Advantage South Dakota Launches Online Portal Economic Gateway

2012-09-13

Advantage South Dakota (ASD) has partnered with Golden Shovel Agency and its online Web solution, Economic Gateway, to embrace and promote economic development in the James River Valley area of South Dakota. The new site can be viewed at http://www.advantagesouthdakota.com ASD is a newly formed organization and has worked closely with the areas leaders to make Southeastern South Dakota more attractive to businesses. This corporation, launched in 2011, supports and promotes economic development. ASD's staff is comprised of a diverse group of management and business professionals ...

Foreign and Commonwealth Office Launches Live Chat Service From Synthetix

2012-09-13

Synthetix, the customer service software company, has been commissioned by HGS UK to build a live chat service for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It will be offered at first to people in the Americas. The service deals with passport enquiries and is believed to be the first deployment of a paid-for live chat service of its kind. The service is open from 21:00 on Sundays (UK Time) to 01:30 on Saturdays (UK Time) (24 hour service). Customers follow the on-screen instructions to be taken to a payment screen to purchase their web chat pin number at the flat rate ...

Carolina Treatment Center to Host Recovery Community Open House in Honor of SAMHSA's National Recovery Month

2012-09-13

Carolina Treatment Center of Pinehurst is celebrating National Recovery Month with: WHAT: Carolina Treatment Center Open House WHEN: Friday, September 14, 2012 4:00 - 7:00 PM WHO: The event is open to the community and media WHERE: Carolina Treatment Center, 20 Page Drive, Suite 8, Pinehurst, NC 28374 Carolina Treatment Center has recently completed an expansion project and will have a special ribbon cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. with representatives from the Chamber of Commerce. BBQ plates from Jordan's Catering will be sold from 4-7 p.m., with all proceeds ...