Home » Men's Interest Articles » Distracted Driving in California: Small Fines for a Large Problem
Distracted Driving in California: Small Fines for a Large Problem
In 2011, California Governor Jerry Brown vetoed a bill that would have increased the fines for distracted driving, a factor in many preventable deaths and injuries on California roads each year.
November 16, 2011 /Mens Interest PR News/ -- In September, California Governor Jerry Brown vetoed a bill that would have doubled the fines for distracted driving violations. He expressed concerns that changing the law would have made those fines too expensive for most drivers to afford.
Governor Brown said he believes that the current fines and penalties are sufficient to deter distracted driving. However, as any Sacramento distracted driving injury attorney knows, far too many drivers continue to engage in this dangerous practice, contributing to a large number of tragic and unnecessary accidents each year.
Compared to the enormity of the problem, California's distracted driving fines seem minute: the fine for a first offense in violation of the cell phone law is $20, while the fine for each additional offense is $50.
The Dangers of Distracted Driving
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving is a factor in approximately 20 percent of all auto accident injuries.
Cell phone use is one of the biggest causes of distracted driving accidents. Using a cell phone while driving is more dangerous than other distractions because a cell phone occupies a driver's hands, eyes and concentration -- all at the same time.
In fact, studies have shown that drivers distracted by cell phones may be impaired to the same extent as those with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent, the legal limit for drunk driving.
California Distracted Driving Laws
Under the current California law, all drivers are prohibited from using cell phones and wireless devices to text or engage in other written communication while driving, but the law is somewhat more permissive when it comes to talking on cell phones.
Adult drivers are permitted to talk on cell phones while driving so long as they do so with the use of a hands-free device, while drivers under the age of 18 may not use cell phones at all. School bus drivers and transit bus operators are similarly barred from using cell phones while driving, whether or not they use a hands-free device.
California's distracted driving laws do not go far enough to protect the victims of distracted driving accidents. However, victims can recover compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. If you have been involved in a distracted driving accident, contact a distracted driving lawyer near you to learn more.
Article provided by Ashton & Price, LLP
Visit us at www.ashtonandprice.com
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