In recent years, most U.S. states, including Michigan, have created laws to ban texting an driving. Law enforcement officials, local politicians, and various advocacy groups have been supporting bans on texting and driving. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (“GHSA”), currently there are 45 states and the District of Columbia that have banned texting and driving because it creates a higher likelihood of causing motor vehicle accidents.
The CDC has consistently advised that texting while driving is extremely dangerous because not only do drivers take their hands off the steering wheels, but they’re eyes are also not looking ahead at the road. The CDC also claims that 9 drivers are killed every day in accidents where at least one driver was distracted by text messaging while driving. Many more drivers are injured every day as a direct result of distracted drivers who are texting while driving.
The head of the GHSA, Jonathan Adkins, claims that because of the dangerous drivers on the roads today, “you need to be able to drive defensively.” If you are texting and driving, it becomes more difficult to protect yourself and avoid a potential crash.
In a recent report in the American Journal of Public Health, hospitalization rates for auto accident victims in states with bans on driving while texting were 7 percent lower than the states without the texting and driving bans. This means the injuries of crash victims in states with the bans may be less serious than injuries of crash victims in states without texting and driving bans.
If you have been involved in a Michigan car accident or a Michigan motorcycle accident because of a distracted driver, contact The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our firm seeks to recover the maximum benefits allowed under Michigan law for accident victims. Call us today at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation with an accident attorney.
Sources:
Governors Highway Safety Association, American Journal of Public Health, and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention