Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is a major problem in Ohio and throughout the country. Although there are efforts underway to crack down on distracted drivers, the number of vehicular fatalities is on the rise. During the first four months of 2019, 296 people died due to auto accidents resulted from distracted drivers. During the same period in 2018, 292 lost their lives in this manner. It is clear that something must be done to curtail the loss of life.
Current Laws Aren’t Good Enough
At the present time, law enforcement officials aren’t able to pull people over due to distracted driving. If someone is texting behind and driving, and an officer witnesses it, they can’t pull the person over unless they commit another offense, such as running a stop sign or failing to signal a turn. Statistics currently state distracted driving is the cause of 5% of all auto accidents. However, this percentage is grossly underestimated because the numbers are derived from people who admit to causing an accident because they were texting or otherwise distracted – not those who are dishonest about what caused the accident. No matter what, that number is too high, considering that people shouldn’t be distracted behind the wheel at all.
The Dangers of Distracted Driving
Many people don’t realize just how dangerous it is to text or talk on the phone while driving. The average compact car weighs 2,979 pounds, while a small SUV comes in at 3,470 pounds. When someone fails to pay proper attention behind the wheel, those heavy vehicles become weapons. Even if the person they hit is in a car with airbags and is wearing a seatbelt – injuries still occur. The situation is even worse when the person that gets hit is walking on the side of the road. They have nothing around to protect them, so they are thrown from the sidewalk or roadway by the full force of the vehicle – all because the driver couldn’t wait to respond to a text message.
Making Distracted Driving a “Primary Infraction”
The current Governor of Ohio, Mike DeWine, is working with the Distracted Driving Task Force who has recommended that the laws are changed. Turning distracted driving into a primary infraction is their primary objective. Law enforcement will then be able to pull over and ticket those who are caught texting or talking on the phone while driving. Lives will be saved.
If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, contact me right now and I’ll Make Them Pay!®
