This video is one of the “Faces of Distracted Driving” series available at Distraction.gov, a website set up by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The story jumped out at us not only because the accident that the victim’s parents are describing occurred not too far from our office, but also because the “simple analogy” recited by the father: “You cannot write a paragraph and read one at the same time.” If you watch some of the other videos available at Distraction.gov, you will notice that distracted driving does not happen in a specific area of the country nor does it affect a particular age group or gender, as the victims include men and women ranging from young children to adults in their 50s and 60s.
Distraction.gov, however, is just one website hoping to make a difference in reducing the number of fatal auto accidents caused by distracted driving. As a matter of fact, more than 750 trial lawyers have volunteered to provide 60 for Safety and End Distracted Driving (EndDD) campaign presentations in schools across the United States and Canada next month. EndDD has set a goal of reaching 100,000 students during April and said in a February 14 press release that the volunteer efforts of the trial lawyers and others may help exceed that goal.
We hope that many of the presentations can use personal stories like the ones on Distraction.gov to put a face on the problem. Too many drivers still fail to realize how much can happen in just a matter of seconds. As the Tampa Bay Times noted, people’s eyes are down for an average of 4.6 seconds when they text and drive, and when done while going 55 miles per hour, that can equate to an entire football field.
Despite the numerous statistics illustrating the inherent danger of trying to use a cell phone while driving, there are still an unfortunate amount of motorists who confidently assert that they can perform both tasks at the same time without putting others at risk.
Wooten, Kimbrough & Normand, P.A. – Orlando personal injury attorneys
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