St. Louis Injury Lawyer Stephen Schultz Discusses Proposed Cell Phone Ban
St. Louis Injury Lawyer Stephen Schultz represents those who are seriously injured every day in a automobile crashes and tractor-trailer accidents where a contributing cause is cell phone use. Crossing the center line of traffic and driver inattention are reasons commonly cited by the Missouri Highway Patrol and local municipal law enforcement for catastrophic collisions on Missouri roadways. Authorities report that 1 in every 7 crashes involved some type of cell phone distraction.
In today's technologically 'connected' world, most of us use our cell phones when driving in our automobile. The bottom line is that it takes away from our concentration on the road and surrounding motorists. Several Missouri State Representatives are discussing a plan to push through legislation in Jefferson City to ban cell phone use by drivers, or at least limit use to drivers that utilize a 'hands-free' type device. States such as New Jersey, New York, and Illinois have already put such legislation into place.
Even more dangerous than talking on a cell phone when driving is texting or email messaging. I found the results of a recent study in Columbia Missouri alarming. Visit the Missourian for testing data. Researchers concluded that reaction times for drivers who were text messaging were 35% slower, compared to only a 12% reduction in the reaction time for a drunk driver. A driver's ability to stay in his/her own lane while text messaging is seriously compromised.
The bottom line is that operating a car or tractor-trailer while on the phone is dangerous and may soon be considered illegal. Statistics show that you are seriously increasing your chances of causing personal injury to yourself and others. If you MUST make a phone call, use a hand-free device. If you MUST respond to a text message or email, pull over into a parking lot and type your message. Don't risk your life and those of others by causing a major crash...the phone call isn't worth it.
In today's technologically 'connected' world, most of us use our cell phones when driving in our automobile. The bottom line is that it takes away from our concentration on the road and surrounding motorists. Several Missouri State Representatives are discussing a plan to push through legislation in Jefferson City to ban cell phone use by drivers, or at least limit use to drivers that utilize a 'hands-free' type device. States such as New Jersey, New York, and Illinois have already put such legislation into place.
Even more dangerous than talking on a cell phone when driving is texting or email messaging. I found the results of a recent study in Columbia Missouri alarming. Visit the Missourian for testing data. Researchers concluded that reaction times for drivers who were text messaging were 35% slower, compared to only a 12% reduction in the reaction time for a drunk driver. A driver's ability to stay in his/her own lane while text messaging is seriously compromised.
The bottom line is that operating a car or tractor-trailer while on the phone is dangerous and may soon be considered illegal. Statistics show that you are seriously increasing your chances of causing personal injury to yourself and others. If you MUST make a phone call, use a hand-free device. If you MUST respond to a text message or email, pull over into a parking lot and type your message. Don't risk your life and those of others by causing a major crash...the phone call isn't worth it.
Mr.
Schultz is the director of Schultz Legal Group, where he is exclusively dedicated to the practice of personal injury litigation. Missouri personal injury attorney Stephen Schultz speaks for the victims and survivors of accidental injury and death claims. Stephen can be reached by email 24 hours a day.
