Distracted Driving – City of Austin Could End cell phone Calls While Driving
Earlier this year, a Distracted Driving Study Group created by Austin’s city council was asked to determine ways that the current city ordinance regarding distracted driving could be made even stronger. Earlier this week, the recommendation was made that portable electronic devices should be banned altogether. The only way to make a phone call, the study group advised, should be by using a hands-free device. The city council will be gathering more feedback on the proposal before possibly placing it on the agenda.
Distracted Driving City of Austin Could End phone Calls While Driving
“Austin and the other major cities throughout Texas are notorious for their traffic problems. And, there is compelling evidence that cell phones and other such devices play a significant role in the problems. One in five car accidents is caused by distracted driving. In 2013, that equated to 94,943 crashes. If pulling over to the side of the road or investing in hands-free technology likely would save lives, then there is merit to considering a change to our current laws.”
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A police officer with the North East Independent School District and retired member of the San Antonio Police Department was injured last weekend while directing traffic for a funeral procession. The driver of an SUV allegedly looked away from the road just long enough to slam into another car, spin around, and then hit the motorcycle on which Sergeant Charles Langley was sitting (“North East ISD officer hit by SUV in San Antonio,” MySanAntonio.com, June 4, 2014). Fortunately, while both Sergeant Longley and the woman in the third car were hospitalized, the incident did not appear to cause any serious injuries (“Off duty NEISD officer hit while on motorcycle for funeral procession,” KENS5.com, June 4, 2014).
The fact that this chain reaction incident apparently was started by a driver who police say was concentrating on something other than the road ahead should not come as a surprise to anyone who has spent time on Texas roads recently. The Texas Department of Transportation reports that nearly 95,000 motor vehicle accidents were caused by distracted driving last year, accounting for one in five of all accidents on the state’s roads. These crashes resulted in more than 18,000 serious injuries and 459 deaths (“Talk. Test. Crash. – Distracted Driving Campaign,” Texas Department of Transportation website). Whether it stems from phone use, reading a text message, or simply taking too long to scan radio stations, Texas drivers who take their attention away from the cars around them and what lies directly ahead continue to pose a threat to those traveling around them.
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