Instagram Fad Constitutes Newest Distracted Driving Accident Risk
Our Atlanta Distracted Driving Injury Lawyers at Montlick and Associates have previously addressed the risk posed by motorists using cell phones on the streets and highways of Georgia. Although traffic safety experts and legislators have focused a significant amount of attention on making calls or texting while driving, the increasing sophistication of cell phones has caused these risks to morph and grow along with the size of the market for apps for iPhones, Android phones and tablet computers. Whether cell phones are being used to read books, keep current on the news, post updates on social networks or engage in other activities that cause motorists to direct their eyes, mind or hands from the road, cell phones continue to cause many unnecessary injuries and traffic-related fatalities.
One of the newer fads that is putting vehicle occupants, bicyclists, motorcycle riders and pedestrians at risk involves motorists using the photo posting site Instagram. Drivers are increasingly taking "selfies," which are photographs of oneself, while driving at seventy mile per hour on the interstate and navigating heavy traffic in poor road conditions. Basically, drivers are using their iPhones and other smart phones to take photos of how they look or what they are doing as they drive and to post the pictures on the Instagram website often adding captions.
While the thought of sharing the roads of Georgia with drivers engaged in this type of driving distraction may sound alarming, the practice appears to be extremely common. According to a recent Huffington Post report, there are over 3 million photos on Instagram tagged "# driving," 50,000 tagged "#driving home," 9,000 tagged "#drivingtowork" and 3,500 tagged "#drivingselfie." The volume of Instagram users engaging in the social networking activity of taking pictures and posting the photos is so extensive that certain car manufacturers like Honda have been releasing ads advising drivers of the risks associated with using Instagram while driving.
There has been extensive efforts to make the public aware that any use of cell phones while operating a motor vehicle is unsafe. However, the increasing diversity of cell phone apps seems to be multiplying the scope of the problem. Further, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that almost a third of all drivers between the ages of 18 and 64 have engaged in text messaging or talking on a cellular phone within the prior thirty days.
Text messaging behind the wheel is so dangerous that many states including Georgia have enacted universal bans on such activity. It is hard to imagine that social networking activity on Instagram would not be at least as dangerous if not more risky than text messaging. Because our Atlanta cell phone accident lawyers hear from many severely injured accident victims and their families, we encourage all drivers to turn off their phone until traveling the roads of Georgia.
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Our Atlanta car accident attorneys at Montlick and Associates have been representing injury victims for over thirty years throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.