How states across the nation are tackling distracted driving

In society today, it is frustrating to see how some individuals are consumed by technology. It appears as if residents in Louisiana and other states cannot go more than a few minutes without checking their phone or completing some task for society. But, there are some places where this does not need to exist.

Motorists should understand the importance of putting their phone down while they are driving. Some may look at it as a minor distraction, but the reality of the matter is that it takes a driver’s eyes off the road, their hands off the wheel and their mind off the primary task of driving.

Distracted driving is a dangerous situation on the roads, causing serious and fatal accidents across the nation. While most states in the U.S. have adopted laws that address this negligence on the roadways, some states have devised even tougher legislation as a means to tackle this increasing problem.

These measures include strong enforcement, harsher penalties, such as fines, and a focus on education and awareness for the general public. Because there has been a 14 percent increase in traffic fatalities in the past two years, which is the largest two year increase in over 50 years, this emphasizes the importance of all states taking action to better tackle this growing danger on the roadways.

In Iowa and Washington, they have implemented the strongest laws to date. In Iowa, police are no longer required to wait to witness another driving infraction to pull over a texting driver. In Washington and Arkansas the definition of distracted driving was expanding, allowing it to include even more dangerous behaviors that drivers engage in, which includes using apps on their phones. Currently, Texas is considering a texting ban, which would make it the 43rd state that has primary enforcement of texting bans.

A distracted driver could easily and suddenly be the cause of a serious or fatal crash. Those harmed by this form of negligence and carelessness should understand their legal recourses. It is possible to file a personal injury action. This helps place liability on the distracted driver, helping the accident victim recover compensation for their losses and damages.