Californians can expect a crackdown on distracted driving soon

April 17, 2013

Individuals who text and drive or talk on their cell phone while driving should beware -- California law enforcement is expected to do a mega crackdown on such activities in April 2013. Texting while driving and talking on handheld cell phones has been illegal in the state since 2009; however, statistics show that a large number of distracted driving tickets have been issued throughout those years. Not only that, but statistics exist to show that a large percentage of car accidents that occur in the state stem from a driver being distracted.

The Mercury News reports that in a study recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was found that 69 percent of drivers in the U.S. admitted to talking on their cell phones while driving, while approximately one in every three drivers admitted to reading or sending texts or emails while driving.

Cell phone texting laws and car accidents

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, the use of a handheld cell phone while driving in California is subject to primary enforcement, which means that a driver can be stopped and cited for such usage even without the existence of any other traffic offense. Texting in the state is also subject to the same primary enforcement.

The California Office of Traffic Safety notes that 80 percent of vehicle accidents involve some type of driver distraction, and throughout the nation, up to 6,000 people are killed in crashes involving distracted drivers. These numbers are painfully obvious to those who have been hurt in a car accident involving a distracted driver or for anyone who has lost a loved one because of someone texting while driving.

What can be done about distracted driving?

Annual crackdowns, such as the one that the state of California does every April, is a start toward making it clear to individuals who choose to participate in such dangerous activities that distracted driving will not be tolerated. But to help put an end to the accidents stemming from texting and handheld cell phone usage, drivers need to realize that:
- Texting and cell phone conversations are the number one source of driver distraction.
- Texting while driving takes a driver's eyes off the road long enough to have traveled the length of a football field if traveling at 55 miles per hour, and most car crashes happen with less than a three-second reaction time.
- Talking on a cell phone, even when using a hands-free device, can cause "inattentive blindness," which is when the brain fails to see what is immediately taking place before the eyes.

Despite all the information that exists about the hazards of driving while texting or using a handheld cell phone, innocent individuals are still being injured and even killed because of distracted drivers.

Individuals who have experienced such drivers firsthand should know that if they or a loved one are hurt or killed due to these acts, there are legal remedies available to them. A lawyer who handles car accidents might be able to assist with preparing a case against a distracted driver because such cases will necessitate a great deal of preparation and evidence gathering.

Website: http://caraccidentsinla.com