At any time in the state of Florida, 5% of motorists are distracted and using their cell phones. An estimated 9% of motorists use their phones during their morning commute and whether they hold it or its handsfree, both of these types of driving count as distracted driving, and Florida is one of the top states for these offenses.
Even though Florida recently enacted a restriction on cell phone use and manual messaging while driving, drivers aren’t putting their phones down. It’s difficult to determine the statistics on distracted driving as no driver wants to admit that they were distracted or texting in surveys. According to the National Highway of Traffic and Safety Administration, around 10% of all drivers under the age of 20 that are involved in deadly car accidents were distracted at the time of that crash.
Under new Florida laws, it’s not illegal to make or receive phone calls at the wheel, but texting while driving is illegal. As well as having officers across the state enforce this new law and pull over people who are using cell phones in their hands while driving, there still needs to be more legislation regarding distracted driving laws, new distracted driving enforcement campaigns, and license restrictions for young drivers. These are all items included under the latest FDOT programs for distracted driving.
When it comes to doing your part with distracted driving accidents, it’s important to put down the phone. Distracted driving prevention starts with drivers setting a good example for others. By reducing the risk for distracted driving accidents in Florida you can protect yourself, your family, and the community as well.
If you’ve been involved in any type of distracted driving accident across the state of Florida, contact us today!
This post was written by Kelly-Ann Jenkins of Jenkins Law P.L. Kelly-Ann is an St Petersburg Personal Injury Attorney She focuses on personal injury, car accidents, and bicyclist injury. The information on this site is not intended to and does not offer legal advice, legal recommendations or legal representation on any matter. Hiring an attorney is an important decision, which should not be based on advertising. You need to consult an attorney for legal advice regarding your individual situation.
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