Posted in Distracted driving,Uncategorized on November 16, 2015
Although it has been illegal to operate a hand held cell phone while driving in West Virginia since 2013, it hasn’t stopped people from hand held phone use. According to the Fairmont, WV, police department, since the inception of the law banning hand held phone usage while driving, citations in Fairmont have increased by the police department. In 2014, the Fairmont Police Department reported issuing 104 citations to drivers using mobile phone while there have already been 235 citations given out during 2015.
While mobile phones are a common cause of distracted driving, mobile devices can range of mp3 players to tablets and GPS devices. As newer models of cars become more frequent on the road, they too can offer their own distractions as many newer car models have interactive displays which can divert a driver’s attention from the road.
Distracted drivers pose significant risk to everyone on the road. Here are some tips for managing distractions:
– Pull over if you need to make a call and you are on the road.
– Ask a passenger to respond to a text message for you.
– Turn off your phone and put it out of reach while you are driving.
– If you are using a GPS, program it before you start to drive.
– Use a Bluetooth device in order to keep your eyes on the road.
According to U.S. Government data, 3,154 people were killed due to distracted driving in 2013. While this represents a 6.7 percent decrease from 2012, the number of people injured due to distracted driving rose from 421,000 in 2012 to 424,000 in 2013.
Distracted driving is a major danger on our highways and, unfortunately, is the cause of many car accidents in West Virginia. If you or a loved one has been injured due to a distracted driver, our attorneys can help. If you have questions or would like to speak with an attorney, call us today.
