It might feel like the speed limit seems too low on your commute to work or the amount of four-way stops in your neighborhood is necessary. But the reality creating traffic rules and laws requires lots of planning, strategic engineering and safety.
So maybe you think it’s unfair or unnecessary to ban texting while driving, but the truth is it’s a lot safer to drive without the distraction of a cell phone. Texting, emailing, scrolling through social media, trying to get the perfect selfie can all wait until you reach our destination. When you text and drive you risk lives and disobey state law.
Texting as a distraction
Picking up and using your phone interrupts your drive in several different ways. When you pick up your phone to drive you probably use your hands to text instead of steer and you’ll probably have to look down to either find your phone, read the text you’re responding to or type the message. When you engage in visual and manual distractions behind the wheel, it can take you longer to react to a hazard on the road.
Plus, texting regularly or using hands-free technology can be dangerous, as it takes your mind elsewhere. There is data to show that using your voice to draft and send a text message can require more cognitive power than talking on the phone. And, put simply, distracted driving and multitasking in any form while driving can lead to car accidents dangerous enough to take lives.
Texting as a violation
Since last year, a ban on texting and driving went in effect in the state of Florida. In 2016 alone, nearly 50,000 distracted driving incidents took place. So now the state law against texting and driving allows police officers to drivers to conduct traffic stops with drivers that are typing on their phone while driving. Drivers who break this rule once must pay $30. Then, after that they can face larger fines, court fees and points against them on their driving record as further offenses are moving violations.
At the end of the day, if you can’t understand the safety risks involved in texting and driving, the law will catch up with you sooner or later. However, if you’ve fallen victim to a texting-related car crash, then an experienced attorney can help you receive compensation to heal.