Dangers of Texting While Driving

Mobile phones have become an ever-present accessory for many of us. We depend on them to ensure we are always reachable as we tackle our daily activities. But too many drivers feel the need to be “reachable” even while driving. They are not getting the message that there is simply no safe way to text and drive. Even if your eyes are off the road and your hands off the wheel for just a few seconds, you are no longer in control of your vehicle and become a risk to yourself and others around you.

In 2016, Fortune magazine called distracted driving an “epidemic” in the United States after the number of fatal distraction-affected crashes increased 8.8 percent from the year before. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that every year on average, 1.6 million car accidents involve cell phones and more than 6,000 lives are lost as a result. These statistics are even more sobering when you realize these fatal crashes are entirely preventable.

Pennsylvania Cell Phone Laws

If these grim accident statistics do not motivate you to put down the phone while driving, maybe the hit to your wallet will. In the state of Pennsylvania, it is illegal to text or use any type of Interactive Wireless Communication Device while driving. If an officer sees you doing so, they can pull you over and issue a $50 ticket that comes with associated court costs and other fees.

Pennsylvania law does not currently prohibit talking on the phone or using GPS or other in-vehicle infotainment systems, but that may soon change. Sixteen states including New Jersey have a ban on handheld cell phone use while driving.

And the early research on touch and vice-activated interactive dashboard technology suggests they are just as distracting as cell phones. Consider this: it takes an average of 40 seconds to enter directions in a GPS, and only two to three seconds for a driver to look away and cause a deadly crash.

Using Technology to Prevent Texting While Driving

Committing to stop texting while driving may not be easy, but it is necessary for your safety and the passengers, drivers, and pedestrians around you. If you cannot seem to break bad habits on your own, consider using technology in a different way – to keep you safe.

Numerous apps and programs are available to silence calls and message alerts during your drive. For parents of novice drivers, there are apps that allow parents to disable teens’ cell phones while driving and monitor their speed and other driving habits.

Philadelphia Accident Lawyers at Freedman & Lorry, P.C. Seek Justice for Victims of Distracted Driving Accidents

With all that we know about the dangers of texting while driving, it is surprising that drivers across the country are not getting the message. Distracted driving crashes are on the rise every year. It only takes seconds for a distracted driver to change your life forever. If you or a loved one has been injured by someone who was texting while driving, let a compassionate and experienced Philadelphia accident lawyer at Freedman & Lorry, P.C. advocate for you.

Since 1945, our Philadelphia accident lawyers have been fighting for Pennsylvania victims of car accidents caused by reckless drivers. You deserve compensation for the injuries that have impacted your quality of life and taken a financial toll on your family.

To learn more about your legal options after a crash, call 888-999-1962 or contact us online. We have offices in Center City Philadelphia, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and Pinehurst, North Carolina to serve clients throughout the surrounding areas.