Most all news stations carried the story today of a Massachusetts boy who was texting on his cell phone while driving and caused a fatal car accident of another driver.
The car crash killed a 55-year-old man and the teen was not injured.
The news story concentrated on the court sentencing for the 18 year old of one year in jail and a 15-year suspension of his driving privileges. While many have commented on Facebook and Twitter about either the lenient sentencing or the suspension being too harsh, the point the court made was very clear. Distracted driving is causing accidents and many are severe.
We wrote in a blog last year about a case in Georgia of a woman texting while driving. The accident not only caused the loss of a victim's left arm but the resulting lawsuit was against the driver who was texting as well as the woman's employer. The damages were in the millions.
For those who have been reading my blogs for some time, know that I too received a sizable fine by the NJ State Police for talking on the cell phone while driving on the parkway.
Talking and texting while driving is rampant and as of now over 38 states are legislating serious laws against violators. As we see in Massachusetts, the court has sent a message to their residents, which have made national news. Distracted driving is causing accidents and must stop.
Editor's Note: Rich Hauswirth is a 32 year veteran of the insurance industry. He is President of Hauswirth & Sons Insurance Consultants of Forked River and is knowledgeable in Property & Casualty Insurance. He can be reached by e-mail at rich@hauswirth.net.
Perhaps one day cars will be equipped with technology that renders cellular phones useless (except 911 calls) unless the car is standing still and the transmission is in park. I have heard a zillion excuses why calls or texting is an emergency and there should be leniency. I think it is all sheer poppycock. Anything that steals a motorist's concentration from focusing on the road is a danger to that motorist and others.