Technology often takes the fall for distracted driving, but is it really to blame? According to Distraction.gov, cell phones aren’t the only culprit. Any activity that draws a person’s attention away from the road, including talking, eating or drinking, or even using a GPS is a threat to roadway safety.
Some technology may prove less harmful than others, but anything that distracts a driver’s attention is dangerous. Google’s newest innovation, Google Glass, provides drivers with a transparent GPS mapping screen that forces drivers to look up and through the windshield, rather than looking at a phone or a device located in the dashboard. For this reason, some states, including Delaware, New Jersey, and West Virginia, are already trying to ban the use of Google Glass while driving.
The car accident attorneys at Pope & Howard, P.C. are all too aware that technological distractions, such as texting and cell phone use, are responsible for a shocking percentage of roadway injuries and fatalities. According to the NHTSA, 21 percent of 15-19 year old drivers involved in fatal crashes were distracted by their cell phones. Worse still, the NOPUS states that at any given time during the day, about 600,000 drivers are using their cell phones or some other electronic device while driving.
While no one can dispute that many car accidents are the result of technology-related distracted driving, technology itself is not inherently unsafe. The real issue is how drivers use their electronic devices. Rather than ignoring the possible benefits of new and innovative tools for driving and navigation, we at Pope & Howard, P.C. would like to see our state senators and representatives focus on the prevention of distracted driving as a whole.
Georgia Super Lawyers Geoff Pope and Marc Howard understand the dangers of distracted driving. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by distracted driving of any kind, please contact our Atlanta law firm at (866) 910-0642 or (404) 885-9999.
Have a Question?
