The Perils of Distracted Driving
For many years, drinking and driving has been one of the primary causes of road accidents and fatalities. However, various effective campaigns and programs have notably contributed to lessening this danger. Organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and public awareness initiatives have played crucial roles in educating people, especially young drivers, about the grave consequences of driving under the influence.
A New Threat: Distracted Driving
While drunk driving should always be taken seriously, there is a rising concern that may pose an even greater risk to all motorists, particularly young drivers: DISTRACTED DRIVING, mainly due to the use of cell phones. The statistics are staggering: over 1.6 million car accidents each year are attributed to distractions while driving, as indicated by the National Safety Council. Moreover, texting or emailing while behind the wheel is 6 to 7 times more likely to result in a crash than driving while intoxicated. A study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that texting while driving can be comparable to driving blind for up to five seconds. Texting is reported as the top distraction among teen drivers, and according to the Institute for Highway Safety (IHS), this behavior is responsible for 11 teen fatalities every day.
The reasons behind this worrying trend are quite clear. In contemporary society, nearly every driver, including teenagers, owns a cell phone. Furthermore, in many areas, such as Texas, using a phone for texting, emailing, or calling while driving is not prohibited by law. This means that there are no criminal consequences for such actions, despite the significant legal and financial implications that can arise. In Texas, like in most regions, parents can be held liable for the civil wrongs committed by their minor children. Consequently, if a child causes an accident while using their phone, parents may find themselves facing lawsuits and financial responsibility.
This situation can jeopardize a family’s assets, lead to heightened insurance premiums, and possibly result in challenges securing insurances in the future. Our law practice has encountered numerous cases where the driver at fault was engaged in texting while driving. Liability in these cases is almost guaranteed, and the financial fallout can be severe.
Consequences of Texting While Driving
In essence, a texting-related accident can be swiftly established and have devastating financial repercussions. There is also significant emotional distress associated with serious accidents, frequently provoked by messages that turn out to be trivial. In one particular case we handled, a driver who ran a red light while distracted by texting and subsequently took another person’s life was compelled to testify that he was messaging his daughter about a dispute she had with her boyfriend.
How Parents Can Help
So, what can parents do? First, it is crucial to treat the issue of texting and driving with the same seriousness and awareness as drinking and driving. Parents should discuss with their children that any kind of cell phone use—be it texting, emailing, or even calling (including via hands-free devices)—takes their focus off the road, results in divided attention, and poses a distraction that is simply too hazardous to overlook. Encourage your children to sign a pledge or contract committing to refrain from using their phones while driving, and outline a strict protocol. For example, if there is a genuine need to use the phone during driving, they should agree to pull over to a safe location before doing so. Alternatively, if there are multiple passengers in the car, one person can be designated to handle texting or phone calls. The bottom line is that this issue cannot be ignored any longer, given the substantial risks involved. The statistics are clear and demand action.
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