Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog
Safety advocates around the country are still trying to get drivers off their cell phones in an effort to reduce the risks of distracted driving-related car accidents in Sunrise and elsewhere. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Ad Council are pushing for safer roadways, too. The two organizations recently teamed up with state attorneys general to create and share a number of public service announcements (PSA) as a part of its “Stop the Texts. Stop the Wrecks.” campaign.
These PSAs are aimed at teen drivers, who typically have a higher accident rate than any other age group of drivers. The PSAs are being used to educate young drivers and to share with them the very real consequences of using a mobile phone behind the wheel, whether making calls or sending text messages.
Our Sunrise car accident attorneys understand how dangerous it is to text message while driving. Florida is still one of the few states that has absolutely no law in place banning drivers from text messaging. According to distraction.gov, distracted drivers caused accidents that killed nearly 5,500 people and injured an additional 448,000 in 2009. People who use a cell phone while driving are four times as likely to be involved in a serious accident.
The first PSA video shows a girl reaching for her phone as she heads through an intersection. Because of the distraction, she fails to see the stop sign and gets into an accident.
The other two PSAs show pedestrians who are walking and texting. While the scene is humorous for viewers, it illustrates a very real danger. Pedestrians need to be aware of their surroundings just as much as drivers do. The end of the video shows teens texting behind the wheel and the dangers they face when distracted.
Both of the PSAs ask viewers, “How will you stop texting and driving?” At the end of the video, you’ll be sent to Stoptextsstopwrecks.org for even more information about the dangerous habit.
Teens are about four times as likely to be involved in a car accident as drivers of any other age group. When you add in the texting distraction, their risks skyrocket to nearly 25 times more likely to be involved in an accident.
Parents are urged to talk with the teen drivers in their lives. It’s important for teens to understand the risks that come with using a cell phone behind the wheel. Keep safe driving habits as a frequent topic of conversation in the household. Although the state of Florida doesn’t prohibit teen drivers from texting behind the wheel, it doesn’t mean that parents can’t enforce their very own distracted driving rules with the drivers in their family.
If you or your teen driver has been injured in a distracted driving-related car accident in Margate, Deerfield Beach, Lake Worth, West Palm Beach or the surrounding areas, you should be advised of your rights. Contact Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez, LLC for a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney. Call 1-800-561-7777 today.
More Blog Entries:
Street-Side Vendors and Sign Shakers At Risk For Car Accidents in Port St. Lucie, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, November 4, 2011
End-of-Year Brings Increased Risk of Car Accidents in Hollywood, Plantation, Elsewhere, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, October 21, 2011