Texas Department of Transportation Continues Driver Awareness to Combat Inattentive Driving
Americans are reliant on the use of mobile devices to keep connected throughout the day. The improvement in technology and increase of people with smartphones will have led to a reported total of 1.75 billion smartphone users worldwide by the end of 2014. With information so readily available at our fingertips, the number of motor vehicle accidents due to inattentive driving have continued to increase, leading to a larger number of personal injuries and fatalities. According to the National Safety Council, over 18,000 collisions occurred in Texas last year due to inattentive driving, 1,000 of which involved cell phone use as a contributing factor. To help address the problem, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) convened in June for an educational summit for employers to encourage implementation of driving policies in the workplace. KXAN News in Austin reported that TxDOT also implemented its “Talk, Text, Crash” distracted driving awareness campaign during the summer. They hosted events throughout the state with guest speakers discussing personal situations involving loved ones lost as a result of talking or texting while driving. Drivers can be proactive in their prevention of accidents caused by inattentive driving. Avoid using smartphones while driving by following basic safety tips, including:
- Pulling to the side of the road or into a parking lot before texting or talking on the phone;
- Using an auto-reply available on many smartphones that texts a message when the owner is driving;
- Refraining from phone use altogether when behind the wheel.
Texting or talking while driving can put lives in danger. It only takes a second of eyes off the road for a collision to occur. A motor vehicle accident can mean the accrual of expenses for medical care, insurances costs, vehicle repairs, and lost wages due to time missed from work. These are costs that victims can face that last far beyond the time surrounding the initial collision. We are here to help you seek compensation. Our law firm serves as the voice of personal injury victims who have been involved in car accidents in Texas. Contact a qualified New Braunfels car accident attorney today for your free case evaluation.
