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On September 30th, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will convene a summit of experts who will evaluate effective measures to make drivers think twice before any distraction while driving. However, as the Washington Post reports, law enforcement will have a tough time enforcing any limitations on a cell phone-addicted population.
In the latest in a series of reports by major newspapers on distracted driving, the Post has a report on the kind of challenges that LaHood is likely to face as he attempts to restrict cell phone use among motorists. As California personal injury lawyers have been saying all along, a ban on text messing while driving is a no brainer, but enforcing this measure or attempting to ban cellphone use behind the wheel entirely is going to be easier said than done. American motorists are addicted to their cell phones. We are a society that prides itself on its multitasking abilities. Chances are each and every one of us has reached for the cell phone to make or receive a call or to read or send a text message at least once behind the wheel. Anyone who says they haven't is probably lying.
The fact is that for many Americans, the drive to work or elsewhere is used to make dinner plans, confirm an office meeting, talk to the baby sitter etc. Our lawmakers have been guilty of cell phone use while driving too. In 2007, one California Senator was allegedly talking on her cell phone when she crashed into another vehicle, causing injuries.
In a situation like this, it's easy to see how enforcing a ban on cell phone use or even text messaging, is going to be hard to enforce. Consider this. Out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, only 17 states and the District have banned text messages while diving. California is included on this list. California, along with a handful of other states, allows hands free devices, and bans the use of handheld cell phones behind the wheel.
LaHood has a long and hard battle ahead of him. He will be relying on facts and figures to frighten people into giving up their cell phones while behind the wheel. Those facts are terrifying enough. Cell phone use is linked to an estimated 342,000 accident-related injuries each year. Besides, these accidents rack up total costs of $43 billion in medical expenses, lost wages, property damages etc. Currently, almost 90 percent of Americans own cell phones. According to the National Safety Council, that's about 100 million drivers with their own cell phones. One study found that at any given point in time, a million people are likely to be talking on their cell phone behind the wheel.
It's not as if the public has not been aware of the serious loss of life that can result when a person is at the wheel and distracted by a cell phone. Last year, a Metrolink train accident killed 25 people and was linked to the operator of both the Metrolink and Union Pacific trains sending text messages just before the crash.
The Reeves Law Group is a California law firm dedicated to the representation of personal injury victims. For a free consultation on a personal injury matter, call us at (800) 644-8000 or visithttp://www.robertreeveslaw.com/CM/Custom/sanbernardinolawyer.asp.
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