Cellphones Behind the Wheel Present Difficulties for Kansas City Traffic Attorneys

People don't realize how destracted they become when they grab their cell phone while driving. Kansas City rush hour traffic can be intense enough without adding distractions or the possibility of involving the stress of lawyers and crashes to your life. Smart phones may have made it easier to keep in touch with the rest of the world, but they can cause lives to change in the blink of an eye when used by a person who is behind the wheel. The number of accidents directly caused by a driver distracted with their cell phone is very high, estimated to be 1.6 million every year. cellular telephone related accidents aren't the sole kind of distraction accidents, but they certainly represent a great majority.

Laws and Regulations for Driving With a Mobile in Kansas

More than half of US states have laws in place to combat the dangers of using a cell phone while driving. If you're driving through Kansas, regardless of whether you're stuck in traffic, at a stop sign or at a stop light, using your cell phone could lead to having to hire a legal professional and/or substantial fines. Many people do not realize Kansas has such a law in place because it's not widely publicized. The Kansas law claims that anyone below the age of 21 is prohibited from using a cellular phone at all, while those over 21 are banned from texting while driving. Make sure to know what your regional laws are.

Mobile phone laws and regulations are constantly changing. Lawmakers and traffic lawyers alike have a unique situation when dealing with Kansas City because it's split down the middle between Kansas and Missouri. The Missouri side of the state line has no laws in place to regulate using a cell phone when driving. That is certainly going to change soon, and not only for the state of Missouri. As mobile phone related accidents continue to soar, lawmakers are changing cell phone legislation across the country.

Driving While Using a Mobile Phone Typical Information

There are many shocking statistics on driving while using a cell phone. If you ask a Kansas City traffic lawyer about using a cellular phone while driving, they will have some troubling experiences to tell. It has been reported by the National Safety Council that over 330,000 injuries and 1.6 million accidents per year are related to using a cell phone while driving. Texting while when driving is 6 times more likely than driving drunk to result in a collision, and texting when driving is responsible for a surprising 1 in 4 traffic accidents. Information like that should make people think twice about picking up their cell phone while they're driving.

An intelligent person will look at the statistics and clearly see the hazards of using a cell phone behind the wheel. Making the roads safer for all people has been a serious task for Kansas City traffic attorneys and lawmakers alike. A little truth that will completely blow your mind is that the average time it takes to respond to a text message is 5 seconds, which is like driving 55 mph, blindfolded, down the length of a football field. It is a undeniable fact that texting while driving is the most dangerous cell phone activity. That's why 94% of people believe there should be a ban on texting while driving and 74% believe there ought to be a ban on any hand-held cellphone use while driving. Research indicates that hands-free phone usage doesn't really change up the statistics much, either.

Teen Information Driving and Cellular Phones

By far the most distracted drivers on the streets are those under 21. Ask any attorney in Kansas City and they will inform you they have seen some real traffic disasters which involve teenagers who were texting while driving. The real sad reality is that these young people knew better. It has been reported that a shocking 94% of teenybopper drivers know making use of their cell phone while driving could be unsafe, but 35% admit to doing it nonetheless. Statistically, texting and driving is more unsafe than driving drunk.

Teenage drivers have plenty of distractions to contend with, but adding a cell phone to the mix may become lethal. Kansas City traffic lawyers know that 21% of fatal car accidents involving teens, were directly related to being distracted by their mobile. It's alarming to discover that 11 teens die each day because they were texting while driving. With stats like that, it's an issue general public and personal safety to evolve our cell phone laws. Waiting until the car is in park is the very best time to answer a text message or answer your FaceBook.

2012 Driving and Mobile Data

Pedestrian calamities are on the rise on account of cell phones, also. While it's not likely something you take into account, Kansas City traffic lawyers have seen a dramatic boost in pedestrian accidents and fatalities associated with cell phone use. Studies involving some of Seattle's busiest crossing points were performed in 2012. Results showed pedestrians who were texting were an average of two seconds slower crossing the intersection, and four times less inclined to look both ways before crossing. While that might not seem to be a lot, it makes a significant difference when a pedestrian isn't being attentive when they cross a busy street.

2012 saw some overwhelming increases in mobile related car accidents. Traffic lawyers in Kansas City saw 2012 as a year with a very high number of distraction related accidents, a few of which were directly related to texting and driving. That year alone saw 3,328 distraction-related deaths in automotive accidents. It's shocking to learn that nearly one half of all drivers on the road admit to answering their cellular telephone while driving and 58% of those drivers will continue to talk as they drive. Answering a phone call while you're driving can be be extremely distracting, but trying to text while driving is significantly more dangerous.

stats 2012 Cellphones and Driving

Pedestrian accidents are rising due to cell phones, also. While it's probably not something you think about, Kansas City traffic lawyers have seen a significant surge in pedestrian mishaps and deaths linked to cell phone use. Washington University did a 2012 study on several of Seattle's most hectic intersections. Results showed pedestrians that were texting were about two seconds slower crossing the intersection, and four times less likely to look each way before crossing. Two seconds isn't considerable time, however the study indicated that a pedestrian is alarmingly sidetracked when using a cell phone.

Data obtained from 2012 show very an increased number of car accidents were relevant to cell phone use. 2012 figures had traffic lawyers in Kansas City reeling from the large numbers of distraction-related vehicle accidents involving drivers on their cell phones. That year on it's own saw 3,328 distraction-related deaths in motor vehicle accidents. Up to 50 % of all drivers on the road confess to answering their mobile devices while driving and another 58% continue to drive while on the phone. Text messages are considerably more distracting than phone calls, but both of them are risky when driving.

Teen Studies Driving and Mobile Devices

Quite possibly the most unfocused drivers on the road are those under 21. With that in mind, the traffic lawyers of Kansas City have seen some sad and horrifying cases involving teens texting while driving a motor vehicle. It's not because they don't know better, either. 94% of teenage drivers acknowledge they understand the hazards of texting, but 35% admit to doing it anyways. Statistically, texting and driving is more dangerous than driving uunder the influence.

Teenage drivers have many distractions to face, but a cell phone can be lethal. Traffic lawyers in Kansas City and attorneys nationwide realize that 21% of critical collisions involving teenage drivers were directly related to driving while using their cell phones. Every day, 11 teenage drivers perish because they were preoccupied while texting and driving. With facts like that, it's a question general public and personal safety to adapt our cell phone laws. Replying to a text message or responding to FaceBook can hold off until the car is in park.

Mobile phones are distracting under any scenario. Being distracted by your cellular phone may need the assistance of a Kansas City traffic lawyer. Using your mobile while attempting to drive can end life as you know it in the blink of an eye. Lawmakers nationally recognize an escalating problem with drivers distracted by cell phone use. Between 2012 and 2013, the number of cellphone distraction-related deaths has decreased 6.7%. Educating the public on the hazards of using a cell phone while behind the wheel is helping to reduce the potential dangers.

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Kentner Wyatt, LLC 435 Nichols Rd #200 Kansas City, MO 64112 (816) 527-0010 Kentner Wyatt, LLC