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Distracted Driving in the State

Every day in Connecticut there are 11.1 million instances of distracted driving.

According to the state Department of Transportation in a new report on April 21, just under 10 percent of drivers are texting or using a hand held cell phone while driving, putting both their life at risk and those of others as well.

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, distracted driving is a factor in nearly six out of 10 accidents by teen drivers which were classified as moderate to severe. In 2013, 3,154 people were killed in the United States and 424,000 injured in accidents where distracted driving was involved.

For the purposes of the report, trained observers were place in seven municipalities to observe driver behavior and extrapolated across the state.

Distracted driving has been against the law in Connecticut for ten years and the fines have also increased to $150 for a first offense, $300 for the second and $500 for three or more. However, this has not stopped the problem.

To try and help, this month several police departments, along with the state police and with the help of grants from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are participating in a crackdown dubbed “U Drive, U Text, U Pay.” Hundreds of tickets have been issued already, over the more than 7,000 tickets issued in a similar effort in September.

If you or a loved one was injured or killed in an accident in Connecticut, contact the Stamford accident attorneys at Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP. We can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Call us at  (888) 244-5480 – or Click here for a free case evaluation.

Drivers Continue to Use Cell Phones

In Connecticut, 2012 accident data shows that distracted driving was a contributing factor for drivers in fatal accidents in 3.6 percent of crashes. The most common factors were speed, alcohol, drugs and medication.

Connecticut law states that it is illegal to use a hand held cell phone whilst driving and is also illegal to text even when the vehicle is stationary.

The police have been cracking down on drivers and one in 77 drivers in Connecticut in 2013 was given a ticket for a cell phone offence. In total 32,000 tickets were issued which delivered more than $2 million in fines to the state.

The fines are currently $150 for a first offense and $500 for multiple offenses.

However, the level of the fines is not preventing people using their phones, as according to the National Occupant Protection Use Survey, over 600,000 drivers across the country are using their cell phones at any point during the day.

Aaron Swanson, of the Connecticut Department of Transportation. said that driving using a cell phone has been a consistent factor resulting in crashes, injuries and fatalities. It is across all age groups and demographics although it does tend to be higher among female drivers than male. It seems that the public has yet to be fully convinced of the dangers involved with distracted driving.

If you or a loved one was injured or killed as a result of a distracted driver,  you may be entitled to monetary compensation for the pain, suffering, and debilitating injuries which resulted from your accident. Contact the Stamford pedestrian accident attorneys at Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP. We can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Call us at  (888) 244-5480 – or Click here for a free case evaluation.

Stamford and National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

In the city of Stamford, along with dozens of other cities in Connecticut, and thousands of other cities across the country, April represents National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.  This month public safety professionals and law enforcement officials aim to increase the public’s awareness of the consequences of driving while distracted, and conduct a high profile crackdown against the practice.

Residents of Connecticut are well aware of the state’s penalties in relation to the use of smart phones while driving.  But due to the continuing incidences of distracted drivers causing serious and even fatal accidents, Connecticut officials – including those in Stamford  – are encouraging the public to observe National Distracted Driving Awareness Month by not only avoiding driving while distracted but also by spreading the word to others.

In honor of this month’s goal to reduce driving while distracted, here are some suggestions to help you avoid this hazardous practice:

  • Turn your cell phone off while driving
  • Keep your cell phone in the glove compartment
  • Keep pets properly restrained
  • Plan your course the head of time in order to avoid having to constantly look at your GPS device
  • Remember that talking on a headset while driving is also extremely dangerous and is best to be avoided

In promoting safe roads for all in Stamford, we call on all our fellow residents to help make  National Distracted Driving Awareness Month a success. The law offices of Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP is concerned about the safety of our roads, and the security of Stamford’s residents.

Distracted Drivers and Pedestrian Accidents

Stamford Accident Attorneys

Distracted driving has always been a common cause of accidents, and with today’s technology the problem has become much worse. With the pressure to stay connected at all times, and the shift from talking on the phone, which is dangerous enough while driving, to texting, which is exponentially more distracting, we can expect distracted driving to remain the leading cause of traffic accidents for years to come. If you have been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, the Stamford accident attorneys of Hastings, Cohan, and Walsh, LLP, can help.

Common Distractions

Public awareness campaigns have brought attention to the dangers of texting while driving, much like the campaigns against drunk driving in the 1980’s. While the emotional tug of these ad campaigns may change the behavior of a few, they can also give people a false sense of security and superiority, making them feel like very safe drivers if they refrain from texting, while they remain completely oblivious to the other distractions they succumb to everyday.

Examples of common distractions which lead to accidents include:

  • Texting and cell phone use
  • Adjusting the stereo
  • Attending to children and pets
  • Reaching for objects on the floor, in the passenger’s seat and in the backseat
  • Eating and drinking
  • Personal grooming

The bottom line is that texting and driving is quickly becoming a major safety hazard on Connecticut’s roadways. If you are a pedestrian, look both ways and pay attention. If you have been injured in an accident in Connecticut by distracted drivers or for any other reason, please call our Stamford pedestrian accident attorneys today for a free claim evaluation.