Maryland battles the issue of distracted driving

March 08, 2013 (Press-News.org) Maryland battles the issue of distracted driving

Article provided by The Law Offices of Burch & Voss
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While many Americans attempt to multitask in their everyday lives, studies suggest that humans are limited in the amount of information they can process at one time. To accommodate the multiple demands of life, people attempt to shift their concentration, back and forth, from one matter to the next. However, if one is assigned to the task of driving, he or she should not attempt to do multiple things at once. A motorist must keep his or her full attention on the road. After all, it takes only one moment of diverted attention to miss important road cues. An instant of distracted driving can result in tragic consequences.

Maryland has had a difficult fight in the battle against the issue of distracted driving. According to the Maryland Department of Transportation, 24,769 distracted driving accidents claimed the lives of 34 people and injured 11,578 in 2008. In this same year, 32 percent of distracted driving accidents were rear-end collisions.

While recent campaigns in Maryland and across the nation focus on cellphone use, traditional interruptions, such as changing the music, eating or speaking to a passenger, can be just as risky. Motorists should keep their hands on the wheel and eyes and mind on the road at all times.

Maryland laws aim to prevent distracted driving

Maryland currently prohibits motorists from using a cellphone without a hands-free device. Furthermore, the prohibition is considered a secondary offense, meaning that a driver must first be committing a primary offense, such as speeding, before he or she can be ticketed for cellphone use.

Furthermore, it is a primary offense for a motorist to write or send a text message while operating a motor vehicle. There are exceptions for emergencies; however, the overall mandate is illegal.

Finally, under Maryland's laws, novice drivers (motorists who have learners permits, intermediate/provisional licenses or drivers younger than 18) are prohibited from using both handheld and hands-free cellphones while driving. Those who violate such distracted driving laws face fines and other potential penalties.

It seems outrageous that motorists are willing to risk their lives or another's all for a simple text message. Nevertheless, with the proliferation of cellphones and other technologies, Americans are addicted to multitasking.

If you have been injured by an inattentive or distracted driver, you deserve compensation. To review the avenues of recovery that are available to you, consult with a knowledgeable personal injury law attorney. A lawyer can help assess your situation.