With April being National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, it’s a good time to bring up one of the most common ways drivers get distracted on the road today. Texting while driving, and even talking on cell phones, are major causes of car accidents in Georgia as well as the rest of the country.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently released a survey of American drivers. According to their information, most drivers know it can be dangerous to drive and use electronic devices at the same time, yet many do it anyway. The survey showed that about 660,000 people admitted to using cell phones or electronic devices while driving in the daytime. Texting and driving and talking on hand-held cell phones are two of the most dangerous practices involving electronic equipment, and yet many drivers continue to take these risks.
However, even while admitting to sometimes driving while distracted, most drivers seem to support stronger laws to prevent such activity, according to the survey. 74 percent said they believed there should be a ban on talking on hand-held cell phones while driving, and 94 percent think texting and driving should be illegal, with fines of at least $200.
Texting and driving will get drivers a ticket in 39 states, and talking on hand-held phones while driving is illegal in 10. But in many states, talking on a hands-free device such as Bluetooth or a speakerphone is still allowed.
It can save lives to use common sense while driving. Is that text or phone call worth the lifelong repercussions that can happen after seriously injuring or killing someone by driving negligently?
Source: 13WHAM.com, “Study: Drivers Know Phone Use Is Dangerous, Still Use Phone On Road,” April 7, 2013
