Distracted driving is a topic frequently posted about on our New York Injury Lawyer Blog.
Last month, we reported that New York drivers can now face 2 points on their driving record as well as a $100 fine for talking on their cell phone — nearly 2 million tickets have been issued in New York for use of a cell phone behind the wheel.
New York personal injury lawyers think that New York drivers aren’t getting how serious talking and texting on your cell phone can be when it comes to causing New York car accidents. It’s serious enough that April is now being designated as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
The National Safety Council and FocusDriven (an advocate group dedicated to cell-free driving) are asking motorists to create awareness by putting their phone down while they drive for the month of April and beyond. It is estimated by NSC that 1.6 million crashes, or 28% of crashes each year, involve someone who is either texting or talking on their cell phone while driving.
“If drivers can go one month without using their phones while driving, they will find out – as many of us have – work still gets done. Many drivers realize most of the calls they thought were so important, really aren’t. It is our hope drivers will decide to make the change permanently. Doing so will make our roadways safer for everyone,” said Jennifer Smith, FocusDriven president and founding board member.
Throughout the entire month of April, drivers are urged to commit to shutting off or putting their phone on silence while they are driving. Another suggestion is to put the cell phone either in the trunk or glove compartment where it can’t be considered a distraction. Last, drivers should create a temporary message letting callers know they are driving but will return their call later. If all drivers committed to one of these measures to eliminate the temptation to respond to a call or text alert, distracted driving accidents would likely diminish significantly in New York and across the country.
Many companies offer cell phones to their employees. However, most companies don’t have a cell-phone policy in place prohibiting employees from talking on their cell phone while they drive. Multi-tasking has become so prominent that employees risk their lives every day trying to take care of business while they drive during company hours.
“National Distracted Driving Awareness Month also is the perfect opportunity for businesses to implement cell phone policies to protect employees. When businesses allow employees to conduct business on cell phones while driving, they are putting their employees at a 4 times greater risk of a crash,” said Janet Froetscher, NSC president and CEO. “NSC provides many resources, including a free Cell Phone Policy Kit for Employers, to help businesses protect employees.”
New York personal injury lawyer, Nicholas Rose understands that being involved in a distracted driving or other accident in New York City or the surrounding areas requires the solid advice of an experienced legal professional. If you have been injured, contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Rose for a free consultation to discuss your rights at 1-877-313-ROSE (7673).
