Will a ban on cell phones prevent automobile accidents in Georgia?

National Safety Council (NSC) is calling for a nation-wide ban on the use of cell phones and other messaging devices while driving. Cell phone use while driving is legal in Georgia.

Cell phones are a wonderful way to stay safe while traveling. It is always good to have a phone to call for emergency help, for directions or simply to say “I’m running late.” However, too many drivers use a cell phone while driving. If you use a cell phone while driving, here are a few things to consider.

• Two separate studies, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine published in 1997 and, a more recent, 2005 report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found drivers who use cell phones while driving are four times more likely to be in a traffic accident. Even hands-free devices can be distracting. This is because drivers often pay more attention to their conversation or text messages than to what is happening on the road.
• A study from the Harvard Center of Risk Analysis found that cell phone use by drivers is responsible for about six percent of U.S. automobile accidents each year. That is approximately 636,000 crashes, 330,000 injuries, 12,000 serious injuries and 2,600 deaths nationwide. Another Harvard University study estimated the cost of cell phone-related traffic accidents at $43 billion a year.
• More than 100 million Americans use cell phones while driving. In a poll conducted by the Nationwide Insurance Company, 81 percent of those surveyed admitted to talking on a cell phone while driving.
• According to both a Virginia Tech study and National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), 80 percent of crashes result from driver inattention.

While a significant form of distraction, cell phone use is not the only type of driver distraction. Drivers may be distracted by looking at objects on the side of the road, by looking at a map in unfamiliar surroundings or by activities such as eating, grooming, and even grading papers. Like many causes of accidents, distracted driving can be prevented. It is best to concentrate on driving and then finish the other activities. Pull over to make a call or look at the map, have a passenger give directions, and take a break to finish that hamburger. It is better to be a few minutes late than to never arrive at one’s destination.

Even the safest driver may not be able to avoid an accident. If you or someone you love has been injured because of a distracted driver, contact the car-accident attorneys at Kaufman Law toll free at 888-973-2540 (888-WRECK-404) for a free consultation.