NBC Nightly News recently reported on a new ad campaign aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. Brian Williams reports that even though a variety of campaigns have been publicized, motorists are still texting while driving. Drivers who text behind the wheel may have a false sense of security, because nothing bad has happened yet, but research has indicated that distracted drivers may have even slower reaction times than impaired drivers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA’s) new public service announcement has a more serious tone than previous campaigns. The ad portrays three teenagers in a car, enjoying a sunny day when the driver briefly glances at her phone. The driver runs through a stop sign, and in the blink of an eye, their car is struck by an oncoming truck.
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month
The NHTSA is publicizing their new campaign from April 7-15, 2014. This high-visibility enforcement plan is taking a multi-pronged approach to engage motorists. In addition to English and Spanish language television campaigns, radio and digital advertising will also be going on. Officials with the NHTSA hope to get the message across that “If you’re texting, you’re not driving.” As NBC Nightly News’ Brian Williams points out, many drivers are continuing to text-behind-the-wheel because they haven’t had a crash yet. This practice is like playing a dangerous game of Russian roulette. Texting-while-driving is effectively driving blindfolded for certain periods of time. At 65, 45 or even 15 miles per hour, a lot can happen in just a few seconds.
U Drive. U Text. U Pay
The NHTSA’s “U Drive. U Text. U Pay” slogan is being touted as a best-case scenario for drivers. If only a law enforcement officer had the chance to write this girl a ticket, she and her friends might have never been involved in a devastating and quite likely fatal wreck. If you or a loved one is injured in a crash involving a distracted driver, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Since not all cases of distracted driving are immediately apparent, a lawyer will need to follow up with the necessary agencies and law enforcement departments to stay on top of investigative developments. If you or a loved one has been injured by a distracted driver, contact the experienced team at the Altman Legal Group at 800-772-0828 for a free consultation today.