Distracted drivers kill people. It’s a harsh but true fact. If you text and drive, the chances are pretty good that you will be involved in an auto accident. But even for those who swear off texting behind the wheel, as long as other people are doing it, we will all be at risk.
According to an op-ed in the Houston Chronicle, 361 fatal Texas car accidents in 2011 involved driver distraction. While this distraction could have involved anything from GPS calibration to lunch, it more often than not involved use of a handheld device.
The National Transportation Safety Board is calling on Texas to pass legislation that would ban texting while behind the wheel. They compare this legislation to seat belt legislation, which has saved countless lives.
The organization is pushing similar legislation in all states—though 39 states and D.C. have already banned texting while driving.
Deborah A. P. Hersman, chairman of the NTSB, says that this isn’t a case of over-regulation by the government, but of the government doing what’s necessary to reduce the financial and human cost of accidents.
Two years ago a similar bill was roadblocked by the governor. Governor Rick Perry has already said (through a spokesperson) that texting bans represent government micromanagement. But the NTSB says the alternative is far worse.
“Information and education are key, as TxDOT realizes and practices with its distracted-driving outreach,” writes Hersman. “But changing behavior and saving lives also requires good laws and strong enforcement.”
Seat belt laws have served to dramatically increase seat belt usage, preventing highway deaths. Use of seat belts increased from 11 percent in 1981 to 85 percent in 2010. Texting bans could offer similar protection.
“It’s all very well to run around saying regulation is bad, get the government off our backs, etc. Of course our lives are regulated,” says columnist Molly Ivins. “When you come to a stop sign, you stop; if you want to go fishing, you get a license; if you want to shoot ducks, you can only shoot three ducks. The alternative is dead bodies at the intersection, no fish, and no ducks.”
In other words, some regulation is needed.
Houston Car Accident Attorney
As long as people continue to text behind the wheel, texting will be blamed for accidents. And when texting or any other distraction is to blame in an accident that causes your injuries, you could be entitled to compensation. Contact Houston-area car accident attorney Kevin Krist today to discuss your accident and the legal options available to you. Call 281-677-3962.
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