Distracted driving is a factor in 1 out of 4 car crashes nationally. Common distractions include eating, reading, drinking, changing a CD, talking on a cell phone, putting on make-up and attending to children in the vehicle. Often drivers may not know they are distracted while they are driving. Unfortunately, it just takes a split second to cause a serious accident. Last year there were 245 total traffic-related fatalities, many of which were attributed to “distracted driving”.
To fight against the growing trend of texting while driving, Utah state officials are releasing a 15-minute public-service DVD. The video documents a traffic accident that killed two people when a driver who was texting drifted in his lane and collided with another vehicle.
Texting or sending emails from a cell phone became a misdemeanor violation in Utah in May. A texting-while-driving ban was also placed on all commercial drivers nationwide. Here in Utah, we are privileged to have the University of Utah on the forefront of nationally-acclaimed research on the dangers of texting while driving. The study shows that texting and driving are two things that can’t be done psychologically at the same time. If we are texting, we cannot possibly be paying attention to our driving. It’s not one or the other, it’s either or. Remember that while sending that text, you are essentially “driving blind” and can pose a serious threat to yourself and other motorists on Utah roads.
Ron Kramer is an Ogden Utah personal injury attorney who has years of experience representing the injured all throughout the state of Utah.
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