Distracted Driving Is a Big Problem
Highway accidents have seen a steady increase over the past decade. One of the contributors to this phenomenon is distracted driving. People do a variety of things while driving that they shouldn’t be doing. Eating, drinking, putting on makeup, shaving, even reading and writing have been cited as issues; however, lately one of the major contributors is texting.
Texting while driving is a major concern, even though it is not considered a primary traffic violation in many states. Taking your eyes off the road for even a millisecond can have dire effects. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that teenagers are most likely to use cell phones while driving.
Texting and Driving Don’t Mix
Everyone can get behind the don’t-drink-and-drive campaigns. The tragedies caused by alcohol use are undeniably avoidable and unnecessary. Just as avoidable and unnecessary are the tragedies caused by texting while driving. People may feel checking a text or email isn’t really that bad. What they don’t understand is people have been killed as a result of the split second of inattention to the roadway caused by eyes on text.
Accidents of all types have occurred as a result of inattentive driving. Texting has resulted in everything from fender benders to crashes involving multiple cars. A study of the American Automobile Association (AAA) revealed that young adults are more likely to normalize texting and driving than any other age demographic.
The Legalities of Texting While Driving
In Florida, as in many states, texting while driving is illegal; however, it is not considered a first offense. This means that while it is against the law, you won’t be pulled over for it unless there is another offense, such as expired tabs or a traffic violation. If you are found to be using your cellphone when you get pulled over, you will most likely get fined.
The bottom line is that texting while driving is dangerous. Drunk drivers can be deadly on the road, leaving behind tragic losses. As benign as texting may seem, it is also deadly, with consequences as devastating as drunk driving. So, help keep the roadways safe and don’t do any texting while driving.
The attorneys at Frohlich, Gordon & Beason, P.A., are specialists in personal injury law. We serve residents in the southwest Florida area encompassing Englewood, North Port, and Port Charlotte. Call us if you have a personal injury case and you are seeking compensation. We provide the first consultation for free. Call us today at (941) 979-9010.