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The Consequences of Distracted Driving

April 3, 2015 | Category: Automobile Accidents | Share

Chelsey Murphy, 19, and her unborn child were killed March 9, 2010, when a teen driver struck her as she was crossing an intersection near her home in Naples, Florida. The teen driver was talking on his cell phone. Watch Chelsey's story.

"Distraction.gov, a U.S. government website devoted to distracted driving, puts a very sobering 'Face' to those whose lives were either lost, or affected, by distracted drivers. Chelsey Murphy is one of those faces. We encourage our readers to click on the link above and take a moment; look at these faces; read their stories. After doing so, do we still feel it is important to take that cell phone call now, or answer that text? Is anything other than our full attention to driving worth it? We think not. We encourage everyone to drive responsibly and undistracted," said Fort Myers Vehicle Accident Attorney Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

The National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) reported that, "At any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving, a number that has held steady since 2010."

The 2015 Florida legislative session has started, and in early February two bills were filed which, if enacted, may help strengthen Florida's texting while driving law. They are Senate Bill 1022 and House Bill 929. These bills, according to The News-Press of February 28, 2015, are aiming to outlaw all cell phone use while driving, not just text messaging banned under the current statute. The bills would not change the provision in the 2012 "Ban on Texting While Driving" law that doing so would be a secondary offense.

Jay Anderson, executive director of "Stay Alive - Just Drive", a local distracted driving awareness group, says, "We've allowed this to happen as a society. We've cracked down on drinking and driving, impaired driving, but we haven't done anything about distracted driving."

The U.S. Department of Transportation is spearheading the effort to stop texting and cell phone use when driving. The department has held two national distracted driving summits, banned cell phone use and texting for commercial drivers and has encouraged states to adopt tough laws.

 

Fort Myers Vehicle Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.

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