Tampa Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney Warns of the Danger of Texting While Driving

If there is one thing every motor vehicle accident attorney in Tampa Bay can agree on, it is that texting while driving is a dangerous – and often deadly – combination. Like oil and water, texting and driving simply do not mix, particularly when you consider that many of those who do text and drive are young, inexperienced drivers to begin with. The danger should be obvious to anyone: taking your eyes off the road even for just a second or two can drastically increase the likelihood of a serious accident. According to www.distraction.gov, a website created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to educate the public about the perils of distracted driving, drivers who text on their mobile phones are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash.

Think texting while behind the wheel isn’t particularly dangerous? Consider this: the act of sending or receiving a text message takes your eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, and if you are traveling at 55 miles per hour, that is equivalent to the length of an entire football field!

Fortunately, states are beginning to take action. Thirty-five states prohibit drivers from text messaging, while nine states ban cell phone use of any kind while behind the wheel of an automobile. States differ as to whether texting while driving is a “primary” or “secondary” offense. For example, in New York, a driver cannot be pulled over for texting on his or her cell phone alone; there must be a separate infraction such as speeding, running a red light, or illegal lane change.