Distracted Drivers a Continuing Problem on California Roadways
As reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2015 alone, more than 3,400 people died in distracted driver-related traffic crashes, while more than 390,000 were injured. The agency estimates that approximately 660,000 drivers use their cell phone while traveling the roadways during any given daylight hour. Though it is no secret that cell phones cause a major distraction for drivers on the highways of California, recent reports show that state laws are rarely enforced, and violations generally go without adequate punishment.
California’s distracted driver laws
The state of California has several laws that restrict cell phone usage while operating a vehicle, including:
- A prohibition against the use of handheld wireless phones for all drivers, regardless of age.
- A prohibition against the use of hands free cell phones for vehicle drivers under the age of 18 years old.
- A complete ban on texting, as well as other types of wireless device use while driving.
The penalty for a first offense is generally $20, and $50 for a second or subsequent infraction. Some lawmakers reportedly believe that these nominal penalties frustrate efforts to enforce distracted driving laws and save lives on the roadway. Skilled Los Angeles vehicle crash lawyers know that the consequences of distracted driving can be much more serious than a small fine. Distracted driving is a factor in almost 10% of deadly roadway crashes and 18% of injury causing incidents, according to the NHTSA.
Inadequately enforced distracted driver laws lead to crashes
Though California lawmakers have taken steps to implement distracted driving laws, recent reports suggest that law enforcement is not doing an adequate job of enforcing these regulations. As reported by NBC Bay Area, fewer than 270,000 illegal cell phone usage tickets were issued by California law enforcement in 2015, which is almost 200,000 less than the amount of tickets issued in 2011.
While these numbers seemingly suggest an improvement in the number of people driving distracted, officials say the decrease partially stems from inadequate enforcement of the laws. Some state lawmakers argue that the nominal penalties are not sufficient to deter these dangerous driving behaviors, and also do not offer local law enforcement agencies enough incentive to aggressively pursue violators.
When drivers are allowed to operate their vehicles while distracted by cell phones and other devices, they place themselves and others on the roadway at a great risk of serious harm. If you were injured in a distracted driver vehicle accident, trust a law firm with a proven history of assisting vehicle accident victims across Southern California. Call Taylor & Ring today at 310.776.6390 or complete our contact form to schedule a consultation with an experienced Los Angeles car crash lawyer.
David Ring is a nationally renowned plaintiff’s personal injury trial attorney and has obtained multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of seriously-injured individuals or families who have lost a loved one in a tragic accident. For more than 20 years, he has represented victims of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, assault, molestation and sexual misconduct in cases against a variety of employers and entities, including schools, churches and youth organizations.
He prides himself on providing aggressive, yet compassionate representation for children who have been sexually abused and women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted. Read more about David M. Ring.