Cell Phone Laws Created To Prevent Car Accidents

Recent studies linking cell phone use while driving to an increased rate of car accidents

have prompted many states to enact cellular phone bans restricting the driver's use of a cellular device while operating a motor vehicle.

In the United States, six states have completed banned cell phone use while driving, and 19 states have banned texting and driving in effort to reduce the number of car accidents related to distracted driving. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reported that more than 20 percent of drivers admitted texting while driving. The Foundation is committed to banning texting and driving in all 50 states as part of a larger project to reduce the number of auto accidents nationwide.

Although several states have banned cell phone use for all drivers, most cell phone laws have specifically targeted drivers under the age of 18. Not only are youth drivers three times as likely to be involve in a fatal car accident, but people 25 or younger also dominate the cellular market, which makes them more prone to be involved in an auto accident involving a cellular device.

A recent study has found that 80 percent of car accidents and 65 percent of near missed were caused due to the driver's lack of attention, according to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration. Driver inattention is cause primarily by cell phones and drowsiness, according to the study.

Driver inattention can also result in a car accident lawsuit, where the driver involved in a auto accident where the other party was using a cell phone at the time can consider contacting an auto accident attorney to advise them on the best course of legal action.

Although the laws vary by age, state and location as some states restrict cell phone use in school zones and near construction sites, most experts agree that it's the conversation that distracts drivers, rather than the device itself. Hands-free devices may come under scrutiny with the results of future studies. For some drivers, conversing on a cell phone while driving may make a drive as prone to having an auto accident as if they were drunk, according to University of Utah psychologist, David Strayer.

Currently, the auto insurance industry has not stated whether traffic tickets related to cell phone use while driving will impact an individual's insurance premium; however the tickets themselves may carry a tremendous fine in many states. The insurance industry has not stated whether a cell phone ticket will impact insurance rates, however; as pointed out by Bob Passmore of the Property Casualty Insurers Associate of America, if an accident occurs while a driver is using a cell phone, premiums will rise as result of the accident.

by: Katie Kelley

POST COMMENT

Hartselle, Alabama Dui Attorney When To Look For A Lawyer Finding A Lawyer Online An Overview Of American And Canadian Laws & Best Toronto Lawyers International Network Of Accountants And Lawyers - Need Of The Transnational Economy The Resurgence Of Herbal Smoke And Legal Buds Popularity - What First Time Users Should Know Employment Law Capability Problems Americans Resolve To Get Healthy Missouri Or Illinois Bankruptcy Could Stop A Medical Emergency From Ruining Your Financial Future What Will You Do When The Suspension On Foreclosures Expires In Missouri And Illinois? The Perks And Dangers Of Owning A Motorized Scooter Legal Buds And Legal Highs: Fundamental And Crucial Information You Have To Be Aware Of The Best Technique To Enjoy The Sensations Of Using Legal Buds And Herbal Smoke