CAR ACCIDENTS IN US: Cell Phone Ban Aims to Reduce Car Accidents

Thứ Sáu, 24 tháng 9, 2010

Cell Phone Ban Aims to Reduce Car Accidents

Several states have banned the use of cell phones while driving due to
reports that using a cell phone while driving may be linked to an
increased risk of motor vehicle accidents [1].

In the United States, six states have completed banned cell phone use
while driving, and 19 states have banned texting and driving in effort
to reduce the number of car accidents [2] related to distracted
driving. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reported that more than
20 percent of drivers admitted texting while driving. The Foundation
is committed to banning texting and driving in all 50 states as part
of a larger project to reduce the number of auto accidents [3]
nationwide.

Most cellular phone bans effect drivers under the age 18, although
some states have restricted all drivers. Youth drivers are three times
more likely to be involved in a fatal car accident [4], and coupled
with the fact that people under the age of 25 also dominate the cell
phone market has made legislators concerned that cell phones will
further distract the new drivers.

The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration and the
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute published a study that finding
80 percent of car accidents [5] and 65 percent of near crashes were
result of driver inattention within 3 seconds of the car accident [6].
Driver inattention is cause primarily by cell phones and drowsiness,
according to the study.

Driver inattention can also result in a car accident [7] lawsuit,
where the driver involved in a auto accident [8] where the other party
was using a cell phone at the time can consider contacting an auto
accident [9] attorney to advise them on the best course of legal
action.

Although the laws vary by age, state and location as some states
restrict cell phone use in school zones and near construction sites,
most experts agree that it's the conversation that distracts drivers,
rather than the device itself. Future studies may cause the potential
ban of hands-free devices as well. For some drivers, conversing on a
cell phone while driving may make a drive as prone to having an auto
accident [10] as if they were drunk, according to University of Utah
psychologist, David Strayer.

Currently, the auto insurance industry has not stated whether traffic
tickets related to cell phone use while driving will impact an
individual's insurance premium; however the tickets themselves may
carry a tremendous fine in many states. The insurance industry has not
stated whether a cell phone ticket will impact insurance rates,
however; as pointed out by Bob Passmore of the Property Casualty
Insurers Associate of America, if an accident [11] occurs while a
driver is using a cell phone, premiums will rise as result of the
accident [12].

LegalView.info has a host of information on a variety of legal
issues, including finding a car accident attorney or developing a
possible automobile accident lawsuit. Check out
http://www.legalview.info/ to learn more.

CAR ACCIDENTS IN US

Thứ Sáu, 24 tháng 9, 2010

Cell Phone Ban Aims to Reduce Car Accidents

Không có nhận xét nào:

Đăng nhận xét