February 4, 2010 – Cape Cod, Mass. - Massachusetts drivers may experience safer roads if proposed anti-texting laws pass and work to discourage distracted driving.
According to Cape Cod Times, a countrywide ban on texting by bus drivers and truckers already exist. Both the State Senate and House have considered bans on texting while driving in an effort to increase Massachusetts road safety. The anti-texting bill was recently introduced by Rep. Demetrius Atsalis, D-Barnstable, but has not yet been passed.
Since the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has stated that those texting while driving focus their eyes on their phone rather than the road for about 4.6 of every six seconds, this practice has been said to be as dangerous as drunk driving.
Those promoting Massachusetts road safety have noted that while strict laws prohibit operating under the influence (OUI), texting while driving has not yet been legally recognized as a dangerous form of driver distraction.
The texting ban for truckers and bus drivers came about when the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute discovered that truckers who text are about 23 times more likely to get into a car accident-or experience a near-miss-than those who do not text while driving.
An auto accident can ruin and completely change your life. If you have been injured in a car crash in Boston or Andover you should contact a Massachusetts personal injury attorney to learn about your rights and determine liability. When you are interviewing personal injury attorneys ask critical questions, like: how long have you been practicing; what is the largest settlement or verdict you’ve obtained, and do you have experience with distracted driver accidents?
