Recently a study from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute revealed that drivers who text on the road are 23 times more likely to get into an accident. To put that into perspective, a slightly intoxicated driver is significantly less likely to get in an accident than a driver who texts. Recently 4 senators came forward developing legislature that threatened to reduce funding to states if they did not introduce laws banning texting while driving. Lawmakers are beginning to study the effects of texting and other distractions while driving, and I would assume that they will find it a danger to the public. In California a commuter train crashed because the conductor was texting on the job. 25 people died from this wreck.
This has become a growing issue with the development of cellular phone technology. Now our phones are not just phones, but cameras, video cameras, and even MP3 players. These distractions are not needed on the highway or even a city street for that matter because the driver becomes more focused on communicating with someone outside of the car. If these drivers, that text, are more dangerous than drunk drivers, then we must take legislative action against texting while driving. In the mean time if you receive a text and you are operating your vehicle, pull over before you text back or simply wait until you get home. There is no reason to risk your life over a sentence that can wait a few minutes later.
About the Editors: Shapiro & Appleton& Duffan personal injury law firm (VA-NC law offices) edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, as well as the Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono service to consumers. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, KY, who handle car, truck, railroad, and medical negligence cases and more.