Dangers of cell phone use while driving in New Jersey

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Using a cell phone to send or receive text messages while driving can be dangerous. According to research, distracted driving was to blame in 18 percent of all fatal accidents in 2010. A total of 3,092 people were killed, and 416,000 people were injured in such accidents according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Further research by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute shows that texting while driving is even riskier than generally driving while distracted. Drivers who use a cell phone while in the car are 23 times more likely to get into an accident than the average distracted driver is. In a study of American teenagers, 40 percent said that they had been in a car with someone using a cell phone in a dangerous manner while driving. Among adult drivers between the age of 18 and 20 involved in an accident, 11 percent say that they were texting or receiving a text just before an accident. Parents are urged to set a good example for their teens and to issue clear instructions regarding cell phone use in the car. For instance, there could be a ban on using a phone while on the road. This is because as new drivers, teens may not realize that taking their eyes off the road for even a second can lead to a dangerous situation. A car accident can leave those involved with severe physical injuries as well as damage to their property. These injuries may result in missing work, a permanent disability and chronic pain. Someone who is hurt or suffers property damage in an accident may wish to hire a car accident attorney for assistance. An attorney may win compensation to cover medical bills, property damage and lost wages if the accident prevented the individual from working. Source: FCC, "The dangers of texting while driving ", November 21, 2014