A motorist survey conducted throughout the United States and in parts of Europe reportedly suggests that American drivers are more likely than residents of other nations to text while behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. According to researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, more than two-thirds of Americans admitted to texting while driving. In addition, U.S. residents are allegedly more likely to be distracted by a telephone conversation while operating a vehicle. In fact, nearly three-fourths of the 5,000 adult American motorists surveyed admitted to speaking on their mobile phone while driving within the previous 30 days. In contrast, only 21 percent of adult drivers in Great Britain and only 40 percent of those in France admitted to using a cellular telephone behind the wheel.
Although mobile telephone laws differ across the U.S., most European nations have banned the use of handheld cellular phones while driving. Oddly, researchers reportedly found that the use of cell phones by drivers in Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain varied considerably despite similar laws. Regardless of where a driver who texts or talks on the phone behind the wheel is located, experts purportedly believe the practice poses a huge distraction to motorists. Many experts allegedly believe that cellular telephones should not be used in the car at all. In the past, some states passed laws designed to curtail the use of mobile phones in the car, and others, like Illinois, have imposed restrictions on the use of cell phones by teen drivers.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended a ban on all use of mobile phones behind the wheel. The NTSB has also allegedly encouraged development of new technologies that would disable mobile phones while a motor vehicle is moving. In 2010, researchers from the University of North Texas reportedly found that distracted driving killed about 16,000 people across the U.S. between 2001 and 2007. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the risk of a car accident is 23 times higher when a driver is sending or reading a text message.
The laws regarding talking on your cellular telephone while driving vary widely throughout the Chicago area. Although the City of Chicago has completely banned the use of handheld telephones, other municipalities have simply adopted the less restrictive state law. Regardless of where you are driving, mobile phones generally pose an unnecessary distraction to motorists. If you were hurt by a distracted driver, you should contact a quality personal injury attorney to discuss your right to recovery.
If you were injured in a Chicago traffic accident, call Abels & Annes, P.C. toll free at (855) 529-2442 today. Our experienced Chicago car accident lawyers are available to answer your questions and help you file your personal injury case. At Abels & Annes, P.C., our dedicated attorneys are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Our capable lawyers are on hand to assist injured clients with receiving the compensation they deserve following a collision that was caused by a distracted or otherwise negligent driver. To speak with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney, please contact Abels & Annes, P.C. through the law firm’s website.
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Additional Resources:
When it comes to texting and driving, US is No. 1, By Maggie Fox, NBC News