Law enforcement is taking steps to try and reduce the number of drivers who choose to engage in distracting behaviors behind the wheel. These behaviors can place themselves and others on the road in jeopardy of being in an auto accident, suffering injuries and death.
As the issue of texting and driving and distracted driving has come into greater focus, the number of citations that law enforcement issues has risen as well. In April, drivers were 14 times more likely to be fined for using a cellphone behind the wheel. The statistics came from the Central Infractions Bureau and covered the years 2009 to 2016.
Danbury had the highest rate of issuing citations at twice as many as the average state municipality. In 2016, Danbury gave out more than 2,500 tickets making of more than 6 percent of the state, despite having 2.3 percent of state population. Fourteen-thousand tickets were given in April, Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Bridgeport gave out 80 tickets to distracted drivers in one day in 2016 — more than March and May combined.
Distracted driving is a major problem in today’s world. Seemingly, everyone has a smartphone and has grown so accustomed to being completely dialed-in at every moment that it is a natural reaction to continually pick up the phone. However, the statistics for 2015 show that nearly 3,500 people died and 391,000 were injured across the U.S. because of distracted driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and AAA are concerned that the issue is becoming more troublesome.
Connecticut has laws to discourage drivers from engaging in distracting behaviors. Officers are doing what they can to issue citations, and keep an eye out for these behaviors. But, it is a difficult trend to completely stop. With these behaviors come accidents.
For those who have been injured in an auto accident with a distracted driver, the problems they face after the fact, can be longstanding and life-changing. If there is a death, the family left behind must put the pieces back together after an untimely and unnecessary incident. Legal assistance in seeking compensation after a crash due to a distracted driver is vital, and a lawyer experienced in all aspects of a car accident can help.
Source: ctpost.com, “Blitzes, hot spots aim to ticket distracted drivers,” Cedar Attanasio, May 8, 2017
