Distracted Driving

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have designated April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month in order to highlight the dangers of distracted driving. Distraction.gov reports that over 3,000 people were killed in distracted driving crashes in 2010, showing that distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic on U.S. roads. Though distracted driving can result from a number of different driver distractions, such as adjusting the vehicle’s stereo, eating or drinking, and grooming, the National Safety Council (NSC) is focusing specifically on cell phone use behind the wheel during Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

The NSC is urging all drivers to pledge to drive cell free this April and beyond in order to prevent a dangerous accident. An estimated 25 percent of all crashes involved drivers distracted by cell phones, and whether a driver is talking on their cell phone using a handheld or hands-free device, they are four times more likely to get into an accident. In addition, drivers who text message increase their likelihood of being in a crash by eight to 23 times. The group is encouraging drivers from coast to coast to take the pledge to drive cell free at nsc.org/pledge.

The NSC also recommends the following tips to curb the use of cell phones behind the wheel: turn your phone off or put it on silent so you are not tempted to use it; use technology that prevents cell phone use while driving, i.e. devices that hold calls and messages and delivers them after you’re done driving; and if you are a passenger in another’s car, offer the driver assistance if they need to use their phone.

It is the responsibility of all Tennesseans to ensure the safety of others on the road by being responsible drivers and “steering” clear of driver distractions, including using cell phones. A serious accident may occur if a motorist chooses to act negligently and not focus only on the task of driving. If you have been injured in a distracted driving accident, a Tennessee distracted driving accident lawyer at the law firm of Massey & Associates, P.C. can help you obtain the compensation you need to recover. We offer a free consultation, so call (423) 697-4529 to make an appointment.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is launching a new campaign to warn teens of the dangers of distracted driving, according to USA Today. The DOT has created a public service announcement (PSA) called “OMG” that will air at movie theaters and various gas station pumps with video screens across the country. The PSA is designed to reach teenagers using imagery that relates to popular shorthand text messages, such as “LOL” for “laugh out loud.” The PSA features scary driving by teens, such as teenage drivers playing with their smart phones while they drive and chatting with a carload of friends, before a car accident takes place. Teens are particularly vulnerable to distracted driving, which is why Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood feels the campaign is important because it will hopefully “ensure they understand the dangers.”

Distracted driving is the number one killer of teens in America, and statistics show that using a cell phone while driving can be as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. Whether it’s a hands-free or hand held device, using a cell phone can delay a driver’s reaction time as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. In addition, sending or receiving a text message makes a driver 23 times more likely to get into a crash; it takes the driver’s eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, which is the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field at 55 MPH.

The problem of distracted driving is increasingly a factor in car accidents across the U.S. In 2009, close to half a million people were injured and more than 5,400 were killed in distracted driving-related accidents. As the problem of distracted driving grows, so does awareness, which makes the “OMG” teen campaign an important step in combating the issue. However, it is always up to the driver to choose to be distraction free behind the wheel, and not all drivers may take their safety and the safety of others seriously.

If you have been injured in an accident caused by another driver’s negligent actions, the distracted driving accident attorneys in Tennessee with Massey & Associates can help you receive compensation for your injuries. Please call (423) 697-4529 for a free consultation.

Distracted driving has become one of the most insidious and deadly threats to highways across the country. While the behavior that causes distracted driving occurs throughout all ages and demographics, young drivers are among those hit the hardest. For that reason, Tennessee state officials and community members are joining forces with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) and the National Ad Council to raise awareness regarding the deadly hazards of distraction behind the wheel.

According to recent data by the national Ad Council, distracted driving is the number one killer of teens in the U.S. As part of a national survey, the agency reported that in regards to texting while driving, 82 percent of young adults (ages 16 to 24 years old) acknowledged reading a text while behind the wheel, while 75 percent admitted to sending a text. Forty nine percent of those teenagers surveyed said they had engaged in the activity numerous times.

Data from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) shows that a driver who is texting is twenty three times more probable to be involved in a dangerous accident than a driver who is not texting. Out of all the drivers under 20 years old who were involved in deadly accidents across the nation, evidence suggests that 16 percent of them were linked to distracted behavior. Hopefully, the collaborative government initiative raises awareness and prevention on the problem because until drivers of all ages recognize the deadly dangers of driver distraction, we will continue to see increasing amounts of tragic and unnecessary highway injuries and fatalities as a result. Have you been injured in a Chattanooga accident that you believe was caused by another person’s distracted driving? Call the distracted driving attorneys in Chattanooga with Massey & Associates, P.C. at (423) 697-4529 today for a complimentary case review.

The term distracted driving has been more frequently used with the widespread use of cellular phones by drivers and with the passing of laws in many states to ban the dangerous use of this device while behind the wheel. Distracted driving can include the wide range of activities that may draw a driver’s attention away from the road, such as cell phone use, eating, or talking to a passenger. According to reuters.com, the more prevalent use of cell phones specifically led the Texas A & M University’s Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) to conduct a study on the dangers of texting and e-mailing while driving, leading them to some alarming conclusions.

The team at the TTI had 42 drivers of varying ages drive a test track course while sending text messages and reading them as well, then driving the course focused only on the road, and recording their reaction times when told to stop at a flashing yellow light. The team discovered that the drivers’ reaction time doubled when they were texting, reading a text, e-mailing, or checking Facebook, making it more difficult to respond to sudden roadway hazards. They also found that texting drivers were more likely to swerve in their lane and reading or sending a text message were both equally dangerous undertakings.

A 2009 report issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that 16 percent of fatal crashes and 20 percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved distracted driving, with cell phones being the primary distraction. Though Tennessee enacted a text messaging ban in July of 2009 and cell phone use is restricted for certain drivers (such as those operating buses), this unfortunately does not guarantee your safety on the roads.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident due to the negligence of another driver, the skilled distracted driving accident attorneys in Chattanooga with Massey & Associates, P.C. can help. For a complimentary review of your case, please call (423) 697-4529.