Texting While Driving
Texting while driving has come under national notice with the increased use of cell phones, particularly among young adults. There are dozens of advertising campaigns promoting the cessation of this dangerous practice. Texting while driving falls under the broader term of “distracted driving,” which can be narrowed into the following categories:
- Visual distraction
- Manual distraction
- Cognitive distraction
Texting while driving involves all three subcategories, as an individual’s eyes, hands, and thoughts are not on the act of driving, but are focused on the text message he or she is composing or reading.
According to the Official US Government Website for Distracted Driving, 20% of car accidents involving an injury in 2009 were reported to involve a distracted driver. In 2009, 5,474 people were killed, and almost 450,000 people suffered injuries due to a distracted driver who caused a car accident. These staggering statistics only stem from reported instances of distracted driving, and do not take into account all incidents in which any form of distracted driving went unreported.
In 2010, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle signed into law a ban against texting while driving, which made Wisconsin the 25th state to sign into law such a ban. The fines for violating the ban are similar to those for other inattentive driving acts, ranging from $20 to $400.
Contact Us
If you or someone you know has suffered injuries due to a distracted driver, contact the experienced Lake Geneva reckless driving accident attorneys at Habush Habush & Rottier S.C. today at 800-242-2874 for a free case evaluation.
