New Data from Driving while Texting
Studies Supports the Advice of Tampa Automobile Accident
Attorneys
For years, automobile accident attorneys
in Tampa, Clearwater, St Petersburg, and surrounding areas
have been warning against the dangers of distracted driving,
particularly the dangers of texting while driving. Seeing
for themselves the devastation that distracted driving
has inflicted upon their own injured clients, many attorneys
have become strong advocates for educating the public
about the importance of keeping focused on driving and
never reading or sending texts while behind the wheel.
To help clear up some of the misinformation
that's out there regarding the dangers of distracted driving
in the Tampa, FL area, the Tampa
automobile accident attorneys at the law firm of Dale
Appell, P.A. have compiled the following facts gleaned
from the latest studies on the topic. According to an
in-depth study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute:
- Talking and listening on a cell
phone can increase the risk of a car crash or near-crash
by up to 1.3 times when compared to non-distracted driving.
- Dialing a cell phone can increase
the risk of a car crash or near-crash by up to 5.9 times
higher than non-distracted driving.
- Text messaging while driving can
increase the risk of a car crash or near-crash by up
to 23.2 times higher than non-distracted driving.
- Text messaging takes a driver's
eyes off the road for an average of 4-6 seconds. If
the vehicle is traveling at 55 miles per hour, this
means the driver who takes his or her eyes off the road
for 4-6 seconds would travel the length of a football
field without looking at the roadway.
By reviewing the above study results,
it becomes obvious that driving while texting should be
made illegal throughout the state of Florida. As of mid-2009,
however, there is no law on the books in Florida—nor in
the Tampa area—that bans driving while talking on a cell
phone or driving while texting.
Whether you live in Seminole Heights,
South Tampa, Seffner, Riverview, or any other community
in the area, you should be aware that drivers around you
may be engaged in these dangerous—and potentially lethal—activities.
By keeping your own eyes on the road and also keeping
plenty of distance between your car and other cars, you
may be able to defend yourself against negligent drivers
who apparently do not care about or understand how their
distracted driving endangers everyone around them.
To speak to our Tampa automobile accident
attorneys about injuries you suffered in a local car accident,
and to receive a free assessment of your case, please
contact the law offices of Dale Appell, P.A. today
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