Texting and driving has become increasingly common on the road. There is a good chance that out of the dozens of car accidents in ri today, more than a few were caused by distracted driving or texting and driving. Whether you’re on a city street or the highway, you’ve probably noticed another vehicle swerving in and out of its lane as the vehicle’s driver attempts to text. This act is not only dangerous, but it is could be criminal in some cases if it rises to the level of reckless driving.
Car accidents in ri today
Understanding the dangers of texting while driving requires you to stop and look at who texts while driving, what the impacts of texting and driving are, and the ultimate legal consequences of being this irresponsible while operating a vehicle. Whenever you search for “car accidents in ri today” on google, look to see whether the car accident was caused by texting while driving.
Read e-mails or text while they are driving
First and foremost, it’s important to remember that texting and driving is a relatively new phenomenon. As such, it’s one that is largely embraced by younger people – the National Safety Council says that about forty-two percent of all teens text and drive on a regular basis. This number is on the rise, but not just among this group. Texting and driving is a problem endemic to most age groups. About half of all drivers admit that they use their cell phones while driving, and about one in ten admit that they read e-mails or text while they are driving.
As such, it’s fair to say that almost every age group or demographic texts while driving. Distracted driving is not a new phenomenon, of course, but the level of engagement required to text is something fairly new for most drivers. Those under the age of twenty are still the most likely to text and drive and are also the most likely to be negatively impacted by the act. It’s important to remember, though, that this is far from being a problem that only impacts young or inexperienced drivers.
What are the Results?
On a very basic level, texting takes one’s eyes off the road while driving. If you are going at roughly fifty-five miles per hour, reading a text for about five seconds will allow you to travel about one hundred yards without looking at the road. These five seconds can be absolutely vital to the safety of those around you, especially when you consider the consequences of taking your eyes off the road for such an incredible distance.
According to the NHTSAL, about ten percent of all fatal car crashes are classified as impacted by distracted driving, the category under which texting and driving fall. The National Safety Council also reports that about 1.6 million total crashes are caused each year by texting while driving. In more concrete terms, about one thousand people are injured every day by distracted drivers, and about nine die every day due to the same. Texting and driving, then, is much more than a nuisance – it’s something that causes both a massive amount of property damage and an absolutely devastating number of lost lives. The consequences of texting and driving, as you may imagine, are becoming much more severe for those who choose to undertake this activity.
Penalties for Texting and Driving
There are, of course, a variety of penalties for texting while driving. In some states, the penalties may be as low as twenty dollars for a first-time offender, while others might have higher fines and penalties. A few states still don’t have laws on the books about texting a driving, but it won’t be long until all fifty states have some kind of penalty for this kind of dangerous action. The simple act of texting while driving a car, automobile or truck has been recognized as dangerous in and of itself. If you need to search for car accidents in RI today do not do it while driving!
This does not, of course, include the penalties that are accrued when an individual causes an accident while texting. Distracted driving penalties also vary between states, but there is relatively little leniency for those whose texting is the proximate cause of a car accident. In one case in Alabama, an individual who caused the death of another person while texting and driving was found guilty of manslaughter. The act of texting while driving has been recognized under the law as being one that puts others in danger and thus should be punished when it is the cause of any injury.
Unfortunately, texting and driving doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon. While penalties are becoming harsher, it’s becoming more of a part of the driving world. Try to remember that choosing to text and drive really does put others at risk and that doing so may cause significant legal problems for you in the future. Pay attention to the changing laws concerning texting and driving as well – as legislatures become more technologically astute, they may also become more aware of the danger that these actions pose to everyone else on the road. In time, these actions may be much more harshly punished than they are today.
If you were injured in a Rhode Island car accident caused by texting, contact a auto accident lawyer RI.
