TEXTING BANS Don’t Work! New Study Shows INCREASE in CRASHES

The incidence of Florida car crashes due to texting while driving is increasing. Distracted driving is one of the most dangerous things a driver can do, yet it is becoming more and more common because of the amount of information and distractions that we have available to us at the push of a button. Where people were once only able to change the radio or chat with a passenger while driving, technology has made it so that drivers can check email, call friends, look up phone numbers, search for directions, play games, or even send messages at the tap of a few keys.

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Because of the increase in car crashes caused by texting while driving, many states have decided to implement laws which prohibit the usage of cell phones for texting while operating a vehicle. The reason is due to the assumption that prohibiting the action will decrease the incidence of accidents; however, the results of such laws have been surprising.

A recent study, conducted by researchers at the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), did not find a decrease in car crashes after implementing laws which prohibit texting while driving. Surprisingly, quite the opposite effect was observed. The results of the study showed an increase in crashed resulting from texting while driving after these laws were implemented. These results are consistent with another study that was conducted by the HDLI which showed an increase in crashes after banning hand-held cell phones.

Researchers believe that banning texting while driving does not stop the behavior, but instead causes drivers to place the phone out of sight while texting. Researchers at the University of Glasgow found that by moving the phone from a head-up position, such as by the steering wheel, to a head-down position, like on the driver’s lap, drivers drastically increase their likelihood of causing a car crash.

Regardless of the results of any study, the fact is that driving while distracted is very dangerous. Don’t be one of the many negligent drivers who cause a Florida auto accident because you were too impatient to wait until a safe time to send a text or make a telephone call. If you have been injured by one of these negligent drivers, you need to hold them accountable for their dangerous actions. Contact a Palm Beach car wreck lawyer at Fetterman & Associates for a free consultation about your injury case.