What types of activity while driving causes collisions?

January 03, 2017

Inattentive drivers pose a danger to other drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians akin to the risk posed by alcohol impaired drivers. Federal motor vehicle safety regulators refer to distracted driving as the "new DUI." While most motorists acknowledge that driving while intoxicated is an unacceptable and risky practice, fewer drivers have the same negative attitudes toward distracted driving that they have toward DUI. Because inattentive drivers have a devastating impact, we have provided additional answers to common questions about distracted driving:

What types of activity while driving causes collisions?

There are many types of multi-tasking that result in distracted driving accidents, such as:

• Consuming beverages and food
• Reading magazines, newspapers, books and e-books
• Rubbernecking at accidents, traffic stops and roadside breakdowns
• Turning or reaching for objects in the passenger compartment of the vehicle
• Engaging in a conversation with a passenger
• Texting or talking on a cell phone
• Using other electronic gadgets such as tablet computers, iPods and portable media players

What legal restrictions exist on Georgia distracted driving practices?

Distracted driving laws related to cell phones are either primary or secondary. Primary distracted driving offenses may be the sole basis for pulling over and citing a driver. When a distracted driving law is only a secondary offense, a traffic ticket may only be issued for the offense if the driver was pulled over for some other violation of law. Georgia treats cell phone related offenses as primary offenses and bans all cell phone use while driving for novice drivers and bus operators. Text messaging is also subject to a universal ban that applies to all motorists.

How much does using a cell phone impair a motorist's driving?

The average period of time that motorists divert their eyes from the road to engage in text messaging activity is 4.6 seconds. Motor vehicles traveling at 55 mph can cover 300 yards (the length of a football field) during the time a driver's eyes are focused on texting activities. Studies also have revealed that drivers engaged in texting exhibit more impaired driving ability than intoxicated drivers with a BAC over .08 percent. Moreover, motorists who use a cell phone to text and drive are 23 times more likely to be involved in a traffic collision than drivers that are not texting.

Source: http://www.donttextdrive.com/statistics/

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Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, assists victims of Georgia car wrecks and other traffic collisions in the Southeast recover compensation for their injuries and losses. This may include monetary compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, punitive damages if the at-fault driver's conduct rose to the level of gross negligence and more. We strive to achieve the most favorable outcome possible for our clients under the law.

Our law firm has over 39 years of experience in representing car accident victims across Georgia and in the Southeast. Contact us to schedule 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.

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Category: Auto Accidents