Distracted driving: It's more than just your eyes

While watching the road is an extremely important part of driving safely, it is not the only thing required to prevent a crash.

2013-03-02

March 02, 2013 (Press-News.org) Distracted driving: It's more than just your eyes

Article provided by Carter & Fulton, P.S.
Visit us at http://www.carterfultonlaw.com

Sending or receiving a text message takes a driver's eyes away from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds -- long enough to cover a football field at freeway speed, according to researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.

As startling as this statistic may be, what many people do not realize is that texting while driving is about more than a driver's failure to keep his or her eyes on the road. While watching the road is an extremely important part of driving safely, it is not the only thing required to prevent a crash. In fact, distraction behind the wheel comes in three distinct forms:
-Visual: An activity that takes your eyes off the road is a visual distraction, such as looking at a map
-Manual: Doing something that removes your hands from the steering wheel is a manual distraction, such as eating or drinking
-Cognitive: Anything that distracts your mind from the task of driving is a cognitive distraction, such as worrying about work

Many distracting driving activities involve more than one type of distraction; for instance, changing the radio station may occupy a driver's hands as well as his or her eyes.

Cellphone use and texting while driving is extraordinarily dangerous because it involves all three types of distraction at once: Visual, manual and cognitive. While cognitive distraction may be easy to overlook, it is in fact very real: VTTI researchers found that using a cellphone behind the wheel reduces brain activity related to driving by more than one-third. With this in mind, it may come as no surprise that texting drivers are 23 times more likely to crash than those who are focused on the road, according to VTTI.

Compensation for Washington crash victims

When distracted drivers cause traffic accidents in Washington, they can be held legally and financially liable for the damage they inflict on others -- including passengers, other drivers or pedestrians who are injured in the crash. Washington accident victims who are hurt by a driver's reckless behavior may be able to recover compensation for the injuries and financial losses they have suffered, including hospital bills, medical expenses, rehabilitative costs and lost income.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a Washington car accident, be sure to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer before discussing the crash with an insurance adjuster or accepting an offer to settle your claim. Talking to an attorney first will help preserve your right to seek a maximum settlement for your injuries in court, and will also prevent the insurance company obtaining information about the crash that they may later construe against you in an effort to deny liability. For more information, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Bicycle riders need to use good judgment

2013-03-02

Bicycle riders need to use good judgment Article provided by Frederick & Hagle Visit us at http://www.frederickandhagle.com/ Running a red light is generally not a good idea for any vehicle, no matter how many wheels it may have. But a new Illinois law gives its blessing to bicyclists and other two-wheeled vehicle riders to proceed through an intersection on red--sometimes. This law may seem contrary to what law enforcement officials have always told bicycle riders. Sound advice from the Illinois State Police These are some of the practices the Illinois ...

New York crime lab's improper action could have led to wrongful convictions

2013-03-02

New York crime lab's improper action could have led to wrongful convictions Article provided by Bruce Yerman, Attorney at Law Visit us at http://www.criminal-defense-law-nyc.com We are all familiar with the TV shows -- CSI and others touting the skills of technicians responsible for evaluating evidence from a crime scene. The laboratory technician conducts tests to confirm the suspicions of the investigators on the case. As is common in so many cases, the image we see on television is a far cry from reality. Unfortunately, the New York Times recently revealed that ...

Juvenile justice system under review in Georgia

2013-03-02

Juvenile justice system under review in Georgia Article provided by The Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Williams, LLC Visit us at http://www.georgialegalresource.com Georgia, like many other states, has experienced some financial difficulties during the recent recession. Finding ways to save money has become a top priority for government officials. Often, this leads to a comprehensive review of some of the programs currently in place, to see if they can be modified to improve efficiency. If changes do not jeopardize the health and safety of residents, they will be put ...

Protecting intellectual property during trade secret litigation

2013-03-02

Protecting intellectual property during trade secret litigation Article provided by Baucom, Claytor, Benton, Morgan & Wood, P.A. Visit us at http://www.baucomclaytor.com/ A company's intangible assets can be protected in a number of ways. Its first line of defense, though, is usually found in trademark, copyright or patent law. However, the judicious application of trade secret law is another preventative measure against the theft of intellectual assets. When a corporation sues over trade secret misappropriation, the greatest irony of the case is that taking ...

Pedestrian safety and preventing accidents in Las Vegas

2013-03-02

Pedestrian safety and preventing accidents in Las Vegas Article provided by Clark Tatom McCourt Visit us at http://www.clarktatom.com/ Although Las Vegas is commonly known as a playground for Americans, it is also gaining a reputation as a dangerous area for pedestrians. The high number of pedestrian accidents in Las Vegas and Clark County has officials urging drivers and pedestrians to take care. Las Vegas pedestrian accident statistics According to CBS News Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reports that pedestrian accidents increased ...

Child relocation rights in the state of Washington

2013-03-02

Child relocation rights in the state of Washington Article provided by Connie L. Powell & Associates, PS Visit us at http://www.conniepowellandassociates.com Child relocation laws in Washington generally apply to families with parenting plans. In cases when a custodial party intends to move, this will have legal repercussions for every person entitled to child custody or visitation rights. Relocation of the custodial parent If the custodial parent of the child intends to move within the same school district where the child currently resides, he or she ...

Passengers of Carnival disaster initiate first personal injury suits

2013-03-02

Passengers of Carnival disaster initiate first personal injury suits Article provided by Law Offices of Charles D. Naylor Visit us at http://www.cruiseinjuryhotline.com In February 2013, 3,143 passengers and 1,086 crewmembers aboard a Carnival Triumph cruise returned to the United States. Unfortunately, they were five days late. After an engine fire exhausted power on the ship for three days, thousands of passengers endured the hardships of broken toilets, no lights and limited food. Voyagers were ultimately towed to the mainland -- approximately 500 miles from ...

Lift the Girls, Free the Girls: A bra Drive by Helen of Troy Bras

2013-03-02

Helen of Troy Bras, a D-K cup full bust and plus size lingerie company, will be hosting a bra drive on behalf of Free the Girls between March 1st 2013 and March 10th 2013 at their location in Sunrise Mall, Massapequa NY. Have new or lightly used bras that don't fit? Donate them at the Lift the Girls, Free the Girls Bra Drive and get 20% off your new bra purchase. All donations go to help victims of sex trafficking around the world. Why Bras? Second-hand clothing is a profitable market in many countries around the world and bras are sought after items. The women in the ...

Significant 2012 Growth Announced by Dial An Exchange South Africa

2013-03-02

The South Africa office of timeshare exchange provider Dial An Exchange (DAE) announces strong growth figures for 2012 that reflect the acceptance the company has received across the region. An increase of 17 percent across all transactions compared to 2011 numbers demonstrates the rise of the company's profile in the area, with membership numbers up 9 percent and a nearly 22 percent improvement in Bonus Week transactions. Exchanges went up 27 percent and membership in the exclusive Gold Advantage Program shot up 66 percent year over year. The growth was not limited ...

Trigild Announces Second Annual Spring Lender Conference in Dallas April 23-24

2013-03-02

A look at what's next in the distressed commercial loan market is in store for attendees at the Spring Lender Conference hosted by Trigild - a San Diego-based real estate firm specializing in property management, receivership/bankruptcy and consulting services. The second annual event is set for April 23 to 24, 2013, at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel. "We see the volume of defaulted commercial loans decreasing, however we also see looming commercial loan maturities on the horizon," said Judy Hoffman, chief operating officer of Trigild. "With loan originations ...

Distracted driving: It's more than just your eyes

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: