DISTRACTED DRIVING IN NEW YORK

DISTRACTION COMES IN MANY FORMS, ALL

OF WHICH CAN BE

DEADLYkaplanlawyers.com

THE PROBLEM OF DISTRACTION

Drivers have a big responsibility when they are behind the wheel of their automobiles. Their actions impact the safety of the passengers in their vehicle and the safety of those they share the road with. With this responsibility, comes the need to give the task of driving our full, undivided attention. For many drivers, however, this has proven to be more easily said than done. There are now more distractions for drivers than ever before and, despite our attempts to increase safety awareness and enact tougher laws on distracted driving, the problem is growing.

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• Distracted driving contributes to at least 16 percent of fatal crashes, amounting to around 5,000 deaths every year, according to AAA.

• The National Highway Safety Administration says that over 8 people are killed every day on our roads in crashes involving distracted drivers.

• Nearly 70 percent of drivers ages 18 to 64 reported talking on a cell phone while driving within 30 days of being surveyed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Over 30 percent of drivers ages 18 to 64 reported that they read or sent text or e-mail messages behind the wheel within 30 days of being surveyed.

SOME ALARMING DISTRACTED DRIVING STATISTICS

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MOBILE DEVICES AND DISTRACTION

Some of the most obvious forms of distraction are texting, talking and the many other activities we perform on our mobile phones or devices. The following statistics highlight the connection between mobile devices and distracted driving crashes.

• At any moment throughout the course of a given day, around 660,000 people are using mobile devices while driving.

• When texting while driving, our eyes are off the road for an average of 5 seconds. When driving at 55 mph, this is long enough to cover the distance of a football field.

• One text can increase your chances for being involved in a crash by 6 times. • Over half of parents surveyed admitted to checking a mobile device while driving.

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TEENS AND DISTRACTION

• Distraction is a factor in up to 60 percent of teen vehicle crashes, according to AAA. • A study by AAA found that teens are distracted around one-fourth of

the time they are driving. • 70 percent of teens report using mobile apps while driving. • AAA says that the leading cause of distracted driving crashes

involving teens is extra passengers, followed by mobile phone use. • Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teens in the

United States.

Mobile devices are only one part of the problem. We can also be distracted by:

• Extra passenger in our vehicles• Eating or drinking behind the wheel• Smoking while driving• Grooming in the mirror while driving• Conversations with other passengers• Loud music or excessive noise• Navigation systems• Using vehicle stereos

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OTHER FORMS OF DISTRACTED DRIVING

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HANDS-FREE IS NOT DISTRACTION-FREE

Yet another form of distraction that drivers face is that of cognitive distraction. Cognitive distraction means that while our eyes might be on the road, our minds might be elsewhere. Even when we use hands-free devices, we can still be distracted in ways that put us and our passengers in danger.

• One AAA study found that our minds can be still be distracted for up to 27 seconds after we complete a task that impairs our focus on the road.

• Some tasks required of drivers using hands-free devices like in-vehicle information systems might be “significantly more demanding than typical cell phone conversations,” according to AAA.

• The brain’s ability to process moving images is decreased by approximately one-third when talking on the phone.

• Talking on a cell-phone, even with hands-free devices, can cause a driver to miss 50% what is around them.

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NEW YORK’S LAWS ON CELL PHONE USE BEHIND THE WHEEL

• New York is one of 46 states that have banned texting while driving.• New York law also bans the use of portable electronic devices while driving, though it

does not ban the use of hands-free devices or GPS devices attached to the vehicle.• Breaking this law will cost drivers 5 driver violation points.• Conviction of a violation for those with learner’s permits will result in a 120-day driver

license or permit suspension for the first offense. Subsequent offense can result in the revocation of a license or permit for at least one year.

• The fine for cell phone use or texting while driving is $50 to $200 for a first offense, $50 to $250 for a second offense and $50 to $450 for a third offense.

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INJURIES CAUSED BY DISTRACTION

Just like any other type of vehicle crash, distracted driving crashes can cause death and serious injuries, including:

• Spinal Cord Injuries• Traumatic Brain Injuries• Organ Damage• Wrongful Death• Broken Bones• Whiplash

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TIPS TO ELIMINATE DISTRACTED DRIVING

① Put the phone away② Avoid taking on extra passengers③ Keep the noise to a minimum④ Never eat while driving⑤ Set destination in navigation systems before

departing⑥ If you need to have a conversation on your

phone, pull over first

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TECHNOLOGY COULD PLAY A ROLE IN CURBING DISTRACTED DRIVING IN NEW YORK

New York has been leading the charge to use technology to combat distracted driving. For example, the Textalyzer has been promoted by lawmakers in the state as method to detect activity on a cell phone to determine if a crash was caused by mobile phone use. Other technologies might also help pave the way to roads which are safer from distraction, such as apps that stop a driver from using their phone while driving. Though technology has fueled much of the distracted driving problem, it might also prove to be part of the solution.

HAVE YOU BEEN INJURED IN A DISTRACTED DRIVING CRASH?

The New York distracted driving attorneys at Kaplan Lawyers PC can help those who have suffered injuries caused by distracted drivers. The costs of distraction to victims of these accidents is staggering, with damages including medical bills, loss of income, loss of work capacity, ongoing treatment, pain, suffering and, in some cases, the loss of a loved one. We will help you hold a distracted driver accountable for the damages they have caused you.

Contact us today for a free consultation of your case. www.kaplanlawyers.com