The Schafer Law Office

Texting Can Wait! Can You?

Texting while Driving is a huge problem on Kentucky roads. Intexicated driving is becoming one of the biggest causes of car accidents nationally. This issue has been all over the news since 2006. There are 30 States in the US that ban text messaging for drivers. This is a response to the statistic of drivers, including teenagers, who are texting while driving. This has caused an increase in auto accidents. In Kentucky, 192 collisions were reported in 2010 due to use of cell phones for talking or texting.

Despite the implementation of texting bans, drivers are still holding their cell phones while driving down the road. We all see it every day. Statistics show that teenagers are the greatest offenders. Is it not enough for young people to know that if they text and drive they are more likely to be in an automobile accident? Is there a solution to this problem?

Maine considered cell phone use and texting as part of a larger distracted driving issue. I believe they are absolutely correct. A summit on texting while driving occurred in Maine which was attended by police, educators, high school students, driving academies, and the health care and insurance industries. According to Ronald Medford, deputy administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, young people text almost unconsciously and incessantly. Changing their normal behavior will not be easy. A solution that involves technology suggested.

The Maine summit began with a powerful video produced by AT&T called "The Last Text", it is a part of the national campaign against texting and driving. The documentary shows brave individuals sharing their stories and experiences of the dangers of texting while driving. Thank you AT&T for producing this.

When I saw the video, I felt EVERYONE in Kentucky should see it. We must do something to stop using cell phone while driving. As a personal injury attorney I see accident victims almost every day that have been injured by a distracted driver. I get irritated when I see someone texting while driving 20 miles below the speed limit. Pass on this blog and the video below so everyone can see how distracted driving and texting while driving affects one's ability to drive and how it can injure or kill someone else. Maybe we can help decrease the number of distracted drivers and serious and fatal automobile accidents in Kentucky.