Cell Phones & Driving: The Dangers Simplified
Most of us have heard or read news reports on the dangers of driving while using our cell phones – and yet, most of us are still tempted to drive and talk. Many people even drive and text. Cell phones have become such an ingrained part o f our lives that we often find it hard to put them down, despite the dangers they pose.
Consider some of the following facts about the dangers of driving while using a mobile device:
- In 2002, about 2,600 people were killed and 330,000 injured due to drivers using cell phones while driving according to a Harvard study. Cell phone ownership has sky-rocketed since that time.
- Another study found that drivers using a cell phone were 18% slower to react to brake lights in front of them.
- About 20% of adult drivers and 50% of teen drivers text while driving.
- Although many people feel more safe using a cell phone while driving if they use a hands-free device, studies have shown that this is just as dangerous as holding a phone and driving.
- Many studies have shown that using a cell phone while driving is as dangerous as driving while intoxicated, and in some studies it was shown that using a cell phone was the more dangerous of the two.
Recently, some municipalities have made it illegal to drive and text. However, law enforcement officers state that it is still against the law to be distracted while driving, which is often the case with talking on the phone and driving. If you or a loved one were injured due to another driver’s use of a mobile device, call the Wausau car accident attorneys at Habush Habush & Rottier S.C. at 800-242-2874 today to learn about your legal options.
