Texting While Driving Still Dangerous, Even with Hands-Free Technology

Although using a hands-free device while driving seems as if it would be safer than holding a cell phone, recent studies suggest that it is just as dangerous.

2013-02-15

February 15, 2013 (Press-News.org) Texting While Driving Still Dangerous, Even with Hands-Free Technology

Article provided by Law Office of Young & Nichols
Visit us at http://www.youngnichols.com

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,092 people were killed and an additional 419,000 people were injured in motor vehicle accidents involving distracted drivers in 2010, the last year for which statistics are available. Overall, distracted driving related crashes accounted for approximately 18 percent of all motor vehicle accidents that year.

Experts and lawmakers were quick to recognize that the proliferation of cell phones and the emergence of texting as a primary means of communication were to blame for the severity of the distracted driving threat. For this reason, many states enacted bans on the hand-held use of cell phones while driving. The use of hands-free devices and talk-to-text technology in cell phones and automobiles was identified as a safe, legal alternative to physically holding a phone while driving.

Hands-Free Technology Still Dangerous

Although using a hands-free device while driving seems as if it would be safer than holding a cell phone, recent studies suggest that it is just as dangerous. Last year, a team at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute tracked the performance of a group of drivers on a closed road. Half the drivers received and sent texts holding their cell phone and half received and sent texts using hands-free devices. The drivers holding their cell phones drove poorly, but so did the drivers using the hands-free devices.

Although hands-free devices allow drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road, researchers discovered that the act of composing texts required a significant amount of cognitive attention - so much so that it adversely affected drivers' ability to navigate a closed road course. Put simply, when drivers were composing texts, they were not paying attention to what was happening on the road.

The use of cell phones - with or without a hands-free device - while driving is dangerous. Unfortunately, given many people's desire to remain connected at all times, it is not likely to disappear any time soon.

Contact a Personal Injury Attorney

If you or someone you love has suffered a serious injury in a car accident due to the negligence of a distracted driver, contact an experienced personal injury attorney. A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can assess your case and help you get the fair and adequate compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. For more information about what a personal injury attorney can do for you, contact a lawyer today.

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

How to prevent and stop wage garnishment

2013-02-15

How to prevent and stop wage garnishment Article provided by The Ford Law Firm, PLLC Visit us at http://www.forddebtlaw.com One of the most unfortunate results of a person's inability to pay financial obligations is the possibility of wage garnishments. A wage garnishment is where a creditor, after many unsuccessful attempts to collect a debt, gets a court order to obtain an owed amount from the person's paycheck. Wage garnishment can be a very uncomfortable experience because it can interfere with other financial obligations. The process may also cause embarrassment ...

Pennsylvania county using hotels to "jail" convicted drunk drivers

2013-02-15

Pennsylvania county using hotels to "jail" convicted drunk drivers Article provided by Blanarik Law Offices Visit us at http://www.blanariklawoffices.com Over the last several years, law enforcement departments throughout the United States have been working on developing creative ways to address drunk driving offenses. Most have focused on striking a balance between deterring future violations and ensuring that the corrections system has the resources and jail space to protect public safety by focusing on the most dangerous criminals. Pennsylvania is ...

Fort Collins Colorado Police Announce DUI Sobriety Checkpoints

2013-02-15

Fort Collins Colorado Police Announce DUI Sobriety Checkpoints Article provided by Stout Law Firm, LLC Visit us at http://www.stoutcoloradolaw.com In an effort to reduce Driving Under the Influence (DUI) accidents in Colorado, the Fort Collins Police Department along with the Larimer County DUI Taskforce are setting up Sobriety Checkpoints throughout Fort Collins. This is not the first time law enforcement officers have used sobriety checkpoints in the area. Officers in the state are just finishing a summer campaign to crackdown on DUIs called "100 Days ...

Increase in grey divorces leads to special issues during property division

2013-02-15

Increase in grey divorces leads to special issues during property division Article provided by Mark Abzug, P.A. Visit us at http://www.coralspringslaw.com Each marriage has its ups and downs. When first starting out, it can be difficult for husband and wife to balance life and work. If they decide to have children, this can increase the responsibilities that they have, and may place a financial strain on the relationship. When money is tight, it can increase the stress that the couple may be feeling, leading to arguments. It is has often seemed that the longer ...

Police brutality concerns

2013-02-15

Police brutality concerns Article provided by Sivin & Miller, LLP Visit us at http://www.sivinandmiller.com/ Most people assume that police officers act in ways that are designed to protect the public from harm. The police force is designed to protect the public and offer their services in order to keep society safe and orderly. Although many officers do just this, some officers do not always follow the correct rules and procedures. Police brutality is a real concern that everyone should be aware of. Recent reports Recently, a Brooklyn man was beaten by ...

Wrongful convictions bring about change in New York

2013-02-15

Wrongful convictions bring about change in New York Article provided by Sivin & Miller, LLP Visit us at http://www.sivinandmiller.com/ Being charged with a crime is a serious and scary event, but being convicted of a crime that you did not commit is terrifying. The legal system, however, is not perfect, and unfortunately innocent people can end up in jail for crimes that they did not commit. A recent wrongful conviction Three men were convicted of committing two murders in 1995 and have served 18 years in prison. The three men were charged with killing ...

St. Louis Arrests for Gun Crimes on the Rise

2013-02-15

St. Louis Arrests for Gun Crimes on the Rise Article provided by Rosenblum Schwartz Rogers & Glass PC Visit us at http://www.rsrglaw.com/ St. Louis police have targeted certain areas of the city in an attempt to reduce criminal activity, especially those involving guns. The initiative, which began in late August, continued throughout the Cardinals' playoff games and met with surprising success. Mayor Francis Slay indicated some of the gains from playoff home games -- estimated at $400,000 per game -- would go towards keeping the program alive while the mayor ...

Youth prescription drug abuse at unprecedented levels, study finds

2013-02-15

Youth prescription drug abuse at unprecedented levels, study finds Article provided by O'Malley Law Office, P.C. Visit us at http://www.omalleylawoffice.com Young people today are abusing prescription painkillers at a rate 40 percent higher than previous generations, a recent study by the University of Colorado Denver revealed. Researchers found that abuse of prescription pain medications like Vicodin, valium and OxyContin is now the second-most common form of illegal drug use in the United States, following marijuana. The study's lead author, Richard Miech, ...

Jurney Jurray Unveils Designer Handbags with Urban Swank and Contemporary Appeal

2013-02-15

As Jurney Jurray, LLC the boutique of handcrafted jewelry and accessories continues to look forward to a fabulous year in fashion, the company unveiled its lasted fashion contribution of designer handbags, rightfully dubbed "glam-bags," with the addition of jewelry artisan, Jenee Dionne's touch. Nearly three years in the making, Jurney Jurray designer Jenee Dionne has finally unleashed a fierce and funky collection of handbags. The home-sewn handbags are created with a mixture of conventional and non-conventional fabrics, such as upholstery, bagging, burdet, ...

Artist Gladys Jimenez Showing Her Artwork in Three Different Galleries This Month

2013-02-15

The unique artwork of local artist, Gladys Jimenez, can be viewed at three different art galleries in San Diego for the months of February and March 2013. Gladys likes to paint representational paintings in oil. Her classic style stands out from the rest. Gladys began painting in 1985, after a summer trip to Europe were she was able to explore the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam, the Louvre in Paris, and other great art museums in Rome and Florence, Italy. Upon her return to Los Angeles, Gladys knew she had to paint. She bought art supplies and ...

Texting While Driving Still Dangerous, Even with Hands-Free Technology

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: