According to almanacnews.com, fifty five drivers have been officially encouraged to think before using a handheld cell phone while driving. The Menlo Park Police Department issued citations to distracted drivers as they were driving through Menlo Park on April 4th and 5th -48 were cited for talking on a handheld phone while driving and 7 for texting while driving. In Atherton, the police department issued two citations for talking on the phone, and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office issued 22 citations for talking on the phone and 2 tor texting. It turns out, traffic patrols throughout California have designated April as the “zero tolerance” month for distracted driving. The other two remaining days of crackdown are April 14th and 28th. Citations will cost drivers a minimum of $159 for the first time and $279 for subsequent violations. Drives who used a hand-held cell phone or device quadruple their risk of an accident serious enough to injure someone, according to studies that claim this behavior has a severe affect on reaction time, the same reaction time as drunken driving.
According to distraction.gov, distracted driving is any non-driving activity a person engages in that has the potential to distract them from the primary task of driving and increase the risk of crashing. There are three types of distracted driving:
• Visual-taking your eyes off the road;
• Manual-taking your hands off the wheel;
• Cognitive-taking your mind off what you’re doing.
In 2009, 5,474 were killed and 448,000 were in injured in crashes involving driver distraction.
Distracted driving comes in many forms, such as cell phone use, texting, eating, drinking, talking with passengers, and the use of electronic devices. There are less obvious, and much more difficult to prove, forms of driving distraction, such as daydreaming or dealing with uncontrolled emotions. If you or a loved one suffered an injury by a distracted driver, please contact our firm. We have over 10 years experience handling personal injury claim and will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.