If you own an automobile, you probably have at least some idea about the dangers of distracted driving. You probably also know at least a little bit about distracted driving dangers posed by cell phone use behind the wheel, and you should know that Ohio law prohibits motorists from using cell phones to text with a handheld device while they are operating a vehicle. Although Ohio’s texting while driving law is a secondary offense, motorists can be fined substantially if they are stopped for a primary offense and are also cited for texting while driving. For drivers under the age of 18, texting or talking while driving is prohibited, and teens can be pulled over and ticketed if they are using a cell phone in any capacity behind the wheel.
Do drivers really abide by Ohio’s cell phone laws, or are more motorists texting while driving than most of us would like to think? According to a recent article from Street Insider, a new study conducted by researchers at Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT), which is the “global leader in smartphone telematics and driving behavioral analysis,” texting while driving is much more prevalent than you might think. Indeed, CMT reports that “U.S. drivers were distracted by their phones in 41% of all daytime drives in 2019.”
Texting While Driving is a Serious Problem
The CMT report emphasizes that texting while driving is a serious problem, and other types of cell phone distraction behind the wheel can also result in serious or fatal accidents. Indeed, as the article underscores, “the problem has stubbornly persisted despite the implementation of laws to prevent phone use while driving and continued fatalities that are a direct result of phone distracted driving.” According to the CMT report, “phone distraction has the potential to lead to an unprecedented number of fatalities if more modern solutions aren’t applied to the problem.”
In other words, texting bans and various cell phone prohibitions in Ohio and other states are not doing enough to prevent distracted driving collisions caused by cell phone use. The report highlights the need for nuanced solutions that can actually stop drivers who reach for a cell phone to send or read a text while they are driving. Without new solutions to prevent distracted driving, the overall rate of distracted driving crashes will continue to climb.
Call My Firm Today for Help with a Car Accident Claim
Most drivers in Cleveland and throughout the state of Ohio should know that distracted driving is dangerous and that it can result in life-threatening and deadly crashes. Yet some drivers might not realize just how prevalent distracted driving is in this country. If the CMT study is accurate, many drivers may put themselves and their vehicle occupants at risk of injury in a distracted driving crash given the sheer number of motorists who are distracted at any given point during daylight hours behind the wheel. I want to make sure to hold these negligent drivers accountable. Distracted drivers know better. I’ll Make Them Pay!® Do not hesitate to call my office at 877.944.4373 to learn more about your options for filing a distracted driving accident claim.
