As a Jacksonville car accident lawyer I have helped many accident victims hurt by texting drivers. Six new texting-while-driving bans go into effect this month as state officials try to reduce the number of car crashes. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that in 2008, nearly 6,000 people died in accidents related to distracted driving and 500,000 others were injured.
One of those states with a new ban is Georgia, where enforcement remains the biggest issue. How are officers going to tell whether someone is texting?
Sgt. Robert Moody of the Georgia State Patrol says it’s easier than you might think to figure out whether someone is typing a message behind the wheel. Texters often weave in and out of lanes, and drive more slowly.
“If you’re looking down, and you’re not paying attention to the road, you may let off the gas and instead of running 55 or 60, you’re running 35 or 40,” Moody says. “Those are the kind of things law enforcement can look for. Once we see those violations, why did that violation occur?”
If there’s an accident, drivers’ cell phone records could be subpoenaed. As of Thursday, Georgia banned all phone use for drivers under 18 and is one of 28 states that prohibit text messaging for all drivers.
Six states have new texting bans taking effect in in July: Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska and Wyoming. If you have been in a Jacksonville auto accident be sure to contact an experienced Jacksonville car accident attorney.