Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog
The Boston Globe published an opinion piece by Focus Driven President Jennifer Smith that contends a state’s enforcement of its distracted driving laws will have a significant impact on whether the effort leads to a reduction in car accidents caused by distracted driving.
As our Massachusetts injury attorneys reported earlier this month on our Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that its study found the number of distracted driving accidents actually increased in three of four states that ban drivers from text messaging. The organization suggests that drivers may be attempting to hide their activities below the dash, which could result in their eyes leaving the road for a longer period of time.
A law banning Massachusetts drivers from text messaging took effect at the first of the month.
The Institute has been critical of the amount of attention the federal government has put on the dangers of text messaging and distracted driving, saying many other forms of distracted driving and safety issues are worthy of attention.
“They’re focusing on a single manifestation of distracted driving and banning it,” IIHS President Adrian Lund said. “This ignores the endless sources of distraction and relies on banning one source or another to solve the whole problem.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently reported that 5,474 motorists were killed and 448,000 were injured in traffic crashes caused by distracted driving last year.
If you have been injured in a Boston car accident, contact Massachusetts Injury Attorney Jeffrey S. Glassman for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Call 877-617-5333.