Image Credit: Throwingbull

A reported 25 percent of all motor vehicle accidents are attributed to someone distracted either while talking, texting or even taking pictures with their cell phones while driving.  These accidents leave many of its victims in medical despair with insurmountable roads to recovery and astronomical medical bills.  Let us not forget the infinite legal journey one has to endure during these already trying times usually ending in very lenient punishments for the perpetrator.  More importantly, many of these accidents are fatal.  Here is a photo of the wreckage caused by a man who was showing his son the camera feature on his new cell phone when he crashed head on.  I have no knowledge surrounding what he crashed into; but, fortunately his son suffered only minor injuries.  Unfortunately, this innocent observer had to witness his father’s death.

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As technology advances and becomes available for use during times when people should be totally engaged in driving, people need to practice safety and exercise common sense.  A study at the University of Utah used simulators to show what occurs when someone drives and utilizes their cell phone simultaneously. The title of this picture reads as follows:  Drivers on Cell Phones are as Bad as Drunks.  For more information on this study see link at the end of this article.

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It is believed that drivers operating cell phones are as distracted as drunk drivers with a blood alcohol level of 0.08.  It has also been reported that drivers texting do not have proper reaction time when approaching stop signs or other vehicles.  Distracted drivers have been known to misjudge traffic light distances and timing and cause many accidents resulting in rear-end collisions.  This near fatal accident happened when a women and her son were sitting at a red light and the driver of an Expedition rear-ended this Honda at 50 mph.

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The perpetrator received a $200.00 fine, nothing more.  Had the accident been fatal, he would have then been charged with vehicular manslaughter.  Here are some photos of the injured child.  He suffered brain damage.  His mother was not seriously injured, but her son has had a long five year battle of therapies, retraining of basic skills and countless doctor visits.  Although the child is doing better, it must have been a seemingly endless, tiring and frustrating journey for this child and his parents alike.

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It is difficult to remain objective when writing about such carelessness.  There were countless amounts of alarming data, research and stories on this subject.  The recurring theme of the research was people do not realize how engaged they are and almost completely distracted when they are utilizing their cell phones while driving.  This driver (same driver in the first photo) has entered the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and is driving in a closed lane.  (Huge red X overhead indicates this).  She was clearly distracted according to the person that took this picture.  At the entrance of the bridge there were barrels setup to indicate the lane was closed.  This very intelligent driver decided to go around the barrels and drive the entire four-mile bridge in the closed lane; only to reach the end of the lane where there were more barrels setup and nearly hit the car of the person taking this picture to get out of the way of the blockage.  Put the cell phone down and back away!!!

Image Credit: Throwingbull

Ironically, the data is not being reported in a way to alert people that this is a growing problem.  Journalist need to be more vigilant in reporting this trend of problematic traffic violation.  More importantly, the laws that regulate this kind of traffic infraction require serious revamping.  Laws need to be stiffer as the punishments truly do not fit the crime.  It should be considered a serious crime to drive and talk, text or anything on your cell phone.  Additionally, the country as a whole needs to be on the same page when regulating cell phone driver’s recklessness.  As it stands, every state has a different law governing drivers utilizing their cell phones and some have no laws at all.  Everyone can admit that at one time or another they have witnessed some moron’s distraction while utilizing their cell phone and driving.  The father of the child who was injured in the photo above says: “Life is so much more important than a cell phone call.”  Be safe, be smart, and Don’t Drive While under the Influence of Cell Phone.

Special thanks to the contributors of the stories and photos for blessing me with their permission.

Please see my article for safety tips:  Operation Cell Phone Lockdown 

Related articles and data:

• Governors Highway Safety Association (State Laws)
• Cellular News (International Laws)
• Utah University Study Data
• Recent train wreck caused by texting