Driven to Distraction in Fort Lauderdale: Is Texting & Tweeting Behind the Wheel as Dangerous as Drinking and Driving?
As Fort Lauderdale car accident injury lawyers are all too aware -- drunk driving is one of the number-one causes of deadly South Florida motor vehicle crashes. That fact should be at the fore of Florida drivers' minds with the holiday season and parties in full swing.
More parties, more travel, and more traffic means an increased risk for deadly drunk driving car accidents on Broward County streets and Florida highways. If that weren't enough to make you think about staying home -- now motorists have to worry about sharing the road with people typing on technology gadgets while driving.
Despite laws restricting or outlawing such practices, wired drivers are fond of texting and chatting on cell phones while driving. Is social networking while driving (that is, updating Twitter, Facebook, and other social media webpages) the next big hazard on the roadways?
It just might be, says an opinion writer in the South Florida Sun Sentinel, which covers Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, and Palm Beach County, Florida.
The author, who represents the American Beverage Institute in Washington, D.C., writes that, "Studies have shown that distracted driving is more dangerous than enjoying an adult beverage or two with dinner responsibly." She suggests that auto manufacturers are partly to blame, as they equip 21st century cars, minivans, trucks and SUVs with technology powered information, communication, navigation, and entertainment devices. (She cites GM's plans to add a Facebook-surfing app to some vehicles, while other manufacturers have wireless Internet for cars in development.)
The article cites a Harvard study suggesting that distracted driving causes some 2,600 traffic deaths every year in the United States. That's reason to pause before picking up the cell phone or hand-held device when you get behind the wheel and hit the highway on I-95 Florida. No text message, Tweet, or Facebook update is worth your life or someone else's.
Distracted driving riskier than drinks
SunSentinel.com Dec. 14, 2010
Related Florida Accident Attorney Blog Article:
Texting and Driving a Dangerous Combination for Florida Motorists
