Amid Call for Nationwide Ban, Cal. Cellphone Laws Reduce Traffic Deaths

Distracted driving laws appear to be working in California, but at least one traffic agency thinks more needs to be done.

2012-10-26

October 26, 2012 (Press-News.org) Amid Call for Nationwide Ban, Cal. Cellphone Laws Reduce Traffic Deaths

Distracted driving has become a prominent issue in recent years. No wonder: distracted driving causes thousands of traffic deaths and nearly half a million car accidents each year. Drivers are 23 times more likely to get into a car accident when texting while driving, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. A University of Utah study found that a driver's use of a cellphone, even if it is hands-free model, is equivalent to having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent, the level which all states presume a driver to be intoxicated.

California has been ahead of the curve when it comes to distracted driving. In 2008, California banned the use of handheld cellphones for all drivers. In addition, 16- and 17-year-olds cannot use hands-free devices. Since that time, the majority of states have passed legislation that, at a minimum, bans texting while driving.

Call for More Stringent Laws

Some agencies are calling for even more restrictions on cellphone use while driving. The National Transportation Safety Board recently recommended all states enact legislation that would ban all cell phone use by all drivers, whether handheld or hands-free. Currently no state has enacted such legislation.

Current California Laws Working

It is not clear that California or any other state will follow the NTSB's recommendation. However, California's existing laws seem to be performing their function admirably. Since 2008, traffic deaths involving handheld cellphone use by a driver are down 47 percent, while overall traffic deaths are down 22 percent, the California Office of Traffic Safety reported. In addition, enforcement is up, with the California Department of motor vehicles reporting that convictions for driver cellphone use have increased 52 percent since 2009.

While these statistics are encouraging, distracted driving is by no means a thing of the past. During daylight hours, at any given time 13.5 million drivers are using a handheld device, according to the NTSB. Since distracted drivers use 37 percent less brain power on driving than undistracted drivers, distracted driving poses a clear danger to everyone on the road.

If you have been injured in a car accident that may have been caused by a distracted driver, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss your rights and legal options for compensation.

Article provided by Law Offices of Mauro Fiore, Jr.
Visit us at http://www.fiorelegal.com

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